Presumed consent for organ donation

My awareness of the plight of transplant surgeons and their patients was awoken by hearing the Transplant Czar on the Today programme. Britain is falling in the league of organ donation. An opt-out policy (presumed consent) would seem logical for a society to express its humanity towards its less fortunate citizens. Koffman argues for the benefits of this while recognising the many drawbacks and possible public abreaction associated therein. Logic is, however, perverse and the effects on organ donation would be incalculable should presumed consent be tested in the courts. Bramhall, nonetheless, identifies countries that have enacted opt-out legislation yet this alone does not explain the superior rate of OD in those countries. Both the public and medical profession need constant education on the benefits and modus operandi of OD. The annual opportunities are rare for OD from a typical district general hospital: it is all too easy to find an excuse not to call out the retrieval team. A decade of PR campaigning is needed to embrace enhancing facilities for OD, education and legislation: only by these will the apathy and misinformation of profession and public be reversed.