New legislation will soon make everyone aged 18 and over an organ donor by default, unless they choose to opt out, reports Extra.
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill announced on Thursday that Part 2 of the Human Tissue Act 2024 will be enacted on June 17, at a time when nearly 700 individuals are awaiting organ transplants.
The law introduces a ‘soft opt-out system of consent for organ donation’ in Ireland, where adults must register with the HSE’s Organ Donation Opt-Out Register if they do not wish to donate their organs after death, reports Extra.
Under this system, medical professionals will be required to verify with a ‘designated family member’ that the deceased had not opposed organ donation.
Additionally, the law will make it possible for individuals to donate a kidney while alive to someone they do not have a personal connection with, reports Extra.
Minister Carroll MacNeill called the legislation’s introduction a ‘significant moment for healthcare in Ireland’, saying that ‘respecting potential donors’ wishes’ will be ‘fundamental’.
She also noted: ‘Family members will always be consulted before any action is taken.’ At present, 676 people in Ireland are on transplant waiting lists, with 500 of them needing a kidney, reports Extra.
According to HSE data, the number of organ transplants performed continues to fall short of demand, with just 263 transplants taking place so far in 2024.
Colin White, who serves as national advocacy and projects manager at the Irish Kidney Association, said: ‘In donating your organs, you are literally giving families the gift of life.
This legislation will help normalise organ donation as part of the death process and kickstart a national conversation on what can be a difficult subject for families,’ reports Extra.
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