The Scotsman has the story: Warning over opt-out organ system in Scotland
"MOVING to an opt-out system of organ donation in Scotland would “not necessarily” lead to more transplant operations taking place, the public health minister has said.
Michael Matheson insisted the Scottish Government was still “unconvinced” about making such a change.
He spoke out as Holyrood debated a petition backed by more than 20,000 people calling on ministers to introduce an opt-out system for organ donation.
Wales is introducing an new system of deemed consent at the end of next year, where organs can be taken for transplant unless people have made it clear they do not wish this to happen after their death.
Mr Matheson told MSPs the Scottish Government would monitor the situation in Wales to see what impact the change had.
But he stated: “It would be fair to say we remain unconvinced that we should make any move to introduce an opt-out system right now.
“I want to make sure that we keep this issue under review and learn from what happens in Wales, but we are making great progress here in Scotland with the programme of activity we have under way.”
The minister added: “People believe opt-out will mean more organs will become available but our own experts tell us this is not necessarily the case.
“Opt-out means increasing the proportion of the population on the organ donor register but you don’t need to be on the organ donor register to be a donor. Over the last five years, 62% of all donors in Scotland are not on the donor register.
“The real issue that limits the number of donors is the number of people who die in circumstances where donation is possible.
“Unfortunately, to become an organ donor you really have to die in intensive care, and only about 1% of deaths in Scotland occur in these circumstances. Sadly that’s something opt-out in itself can not change.”
Mr Matheson said the US had a higher organ donation rate than Scotland but did not have an opt-out system while Sweden has an opt-out system, but has a lower donation rate than Scotland.
“There is no single thing that will bring about the revolution in donation rates,” Mr Matheson said.
He stressed the Scottish Government was “committed to increasing organ donations in Scotland”, adding: “I don’t believe any other country in the UK can say it has done more on this agenda in the last five years than what has happened here in Scotland.”
He told how Scotland had almost doubled the number of organ donors in the last six years, adding there had been a 62% rise in transplants being carried out - the highest increase in the UK.
Meanwhile, there has been a 25% reduction in the transplant waiting list since 2006-07, Mr Matheson said.
He told MSPs: “We’re making the best progress in the UK. We’re seeing more donors and we’re delivering more transplants and we’re saving more lives as a result.
“We will keep on review how the opt-out process progresses in Wales, but while we are making the sort of progress we have delivering here in Scotland over recent years, I believe it is prudent and appropriate that we should wait to see what happens in Wales before we start to introduce significant legislative change here in Scotland.”
"MOVING to an opt-out system of organ donation in Scotland would “not necessarily” lead to more transplant operations taking place, the public health minister has said.
Michael Matheson insisted the Scottish Government was still “unconvinced” about making such a change.
He spoke out as Holyrood debated a petition backed by more than 20,000 people calling on ministers to introduce an opt-out system for organ donation.
Wales is introducing an new system of deemed consent at the end of next year, where organs can be taken for transplant unless people have made it clear they do not wish this to happen after their death.
Mr Matheson told MSPs the Scottish Government would monitor the situation in Wales to see what impact the change had.
But he stated: “It would be fair to say we remain unconvinced that we should make any move to introduce an opt-out system right now.
“I want to make sure that we keep this issue under review and learn from what happens in Wales, but we are making great progress here in Scotland with the programme of activity we have under way.”
The minister added: “People believe opt-out will mean more organs will become available but our own experts tell us this is not necessarily the case.
“Opt-out means increasing the proportion of the population on the organ donor register but you don’t need to be on the organ donor register to be a donor. Over the last five years, 62% of all donors in Scotland are not on the donor register.
“The real issue that limits the number of donors is the number of people who die in circumstances where donation is possible.
“Unfortunately, to become an organ donor you really have to die in intensive care, and only about 1% of deaths in Scotland occur in these circumstances. Sadly that’s something opt-out in itself can not change.”
Mr Matheson said the US had a higher organ donation rate than Scotland but did not have an opt-out system while Sweden has an opt-out system, but has a lower donation rate than Scotland.
“There is no single thing that will bring about the revolution in donation rates,” Mr Matheson said.
He stressed the Scottish Government was “committed to increasing organ donations in Scotland”, adding: “I don’t believe any other country in the UK can say it has done more on this agenda in the last five years than what has happened here in Scotland.”
He told how Scotland had almost doubled the number of organ donors in the last six years, adding there had been a 62% rise in transplants being carried out - the highest increase in the UK.
Meanwhile, there has been a 25% reduction in the transplant waiting list since 2006-07, Mr Matheson said.
He told MSPs: “We’re making the best progress in the UK. We’re seeing more donors and we’re delivering more transplants and we’re saving more lives as a result.
“We will keep on review how the opt-out process progresses in Wales, but while we are making the sort of progress we have delivering here in Scotland over recent years, I believe it is prudent and appropriate that we should wait to see what happens in Wales before we start to introduce significant legislative change here in Scotland.”
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