Organ donation and transplantation
The Organ Donation Taskforce recommended that the UK should not move towards the kind of opt-out system supported by the BMA.
BMA disappointed by opt-out decision, 17 November 2008BMA response to the Organ Donation Task Force's report, 16 January 2008
Dr Tony Calland, Chairman of the BMA’s Medical Ethics Committee, applauds the recommendations to improve current systems for organ donation in the initial report released by the Organ Donation Task Force.BMA written evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union Sub-Committee G Inquiry into the EU Commission's communication on organ donation and transplantation: policy actions at EU level, October 2007
The BMA has been concerned for many years about the shortage of organs available for donation and has been actively working with other organisations to find ways to address the problem. We welcome any initiatives that are likely to improve organ donation rates in the UK, and in particular, seeing what lessons we can learn from other countries within Europe.Organ donation in the 21st century
This paper brings together a range of practical suggestions for increasing transplantation rates, for the benefit of those people whose lives could be saved or dramatically improved by a transplant.Presumed consent for organ donation, July 2008
This briefing paper by the BMA supports a system of soft presumed consent, with safeguards, for organ donation by deceased people over the age of 16. In this system, relatives' views would always be taken into account.