Inishowen Organ
beneficiaries call for ‘opt out’ system of consent
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen
Independent
TWO local people who have received new organs have
called on the government to change the law so that
people would have to opt out of having their organs
harvested after death. The new law would replace the
current ‘opt in’ donor card system of consent.
Their views were expressed as Minister for Health,
Mary Harney launched a public consultation into the
issue of consent for the donation of organs after
death in order to find a way of increasing the
number of organs available for immediate
transplantation in this country. The latest date for
the receipt of responses is the 28th of February.
Welcoming the news that the Minister for Health is
seeking the views of the public on this issue,
Carnamoyle, Muff, woman Vienna White said she thinks
Ireland should adopt an opt out system. At present a
number of European countries, such as Austria and
Spain operate variants of the opt out form of
consent.
“I think we would be better off with the opt out
option,” said the Mrs White, who received a new
kidney a year ago.
Mrs White spoke about the case of 16 year old Kiva
Humphries, the Dublin woman who has been on a
ventricular assist device for 280 days while she
waits for a suitable heart to be found. “As far as I
know her time is running out,” said Mrs White.
“I suppose that if it were put to a vote, a lot of
people wouldn’t want an opt out system, but if they
could see people on dialysis they would soon change
their minds. I know of people who have been waiting
for 6 years for a suitable organ,” added the Irish
Kidney Association campaigner.
“Since I’ve had my operation, I’ve been able to
resume a normal life and I am very appreciative for
someone giving me the chance” said the Vienna, who
is in training for this summer’s World Transplant
Games in Australia.
Meanwhile kidney transplant beneficiary Hugo Boyce
has said he would ‘vote for opt out tomorrow’ if he
had the chance.
The Clonmany man, who received a new kidney 21 years
ago, said it was time for a mature debate on the
issue of consent.
“I definitely don’t think that giving up your organs
when you die should be compulsory, but it is so
important that we get more donors, because so many
of our young people are dying every year because of
a shortage of organ donors.
“If a person is found dead, their organs are no good
to them, so I think they must be passed on. I got my
kidney from an 18 year old girl and it gave me a new
lease of life.”
Minister Harney’s consultation on organ donation is
part of a broader public discourse in preparing a
Human Tissue Bill, which will regulate the removal,
retention, storage, use and disposal of human tissue
from deceased persons and related matters, including
the issue of consent for donation of organs for
transplantation after death. |
