In an effort to improve organ donation rates and strengthen the transplantation program in the United Kingdom, the British Medical Association has launched a major public campaign and has published a paper outlining options for change.
The BMA will be working with groups including the Patients' Association, the Intensive Care Society, various kidney charities, the surgical royal colleges, transplant coordinators, and others "to stimulate a major public debate on organ donation," the association said in a June 13 press release.
The BMA's just-published paper, "Organ Donation in the 21st Century: Time for a Consolidated Approach," proposes the introduction of a single, comprehensive piece of legislation covering all aspects of organ donation-from both live and cadaveric donors; changes to the organizational structure of the organ donation program; and changes to the established practice of organ donation.
The proposals include a desire by the BMA to introduce a system of presumed consent, under which it would be presumed that individuals have agreed to organ donation unless they have registered an objection to becoming a donor. The proposals also call for the development of a mechanism to ensure that potential live donors are acting voluntarily and free from pressure.
"Some of the changes proposed in this paper are likely to be controversial and need to be debated thoroughly before being implemented," the BMA said. "Recognizing the risk of alienating some sections of the public by appearing to move too quickly, the BMA nonetheless considers that there are good arguments for seeking change."
The BMA lists seven organizations that support the BMA's campaign and endorse the paper; ten organizations that support the campaign but don't endorse the paper, and three groups that endorse the paper but do not actively support the campaign.
For Your Information:
At its website, www.bma.org.uk, the BMA posts links to its press release and to an outline of the paper. The paper is available from Medical Ethics Department, British Medical Association, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JP, England.
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