Make your decision known this Organ Donation Week

Today marks the start of Organ Donation Week, an opportunity to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation and the impact they can have on another person’s life.
This blog, from Organ Donation Scotland, highlights the upcoming changes in legislation around organ and tissue donation and the importance of letting your loved ones know your wishes.

We all have it in us to save a life, but how many of us have thought about whether we actually want to be an organ and tissue donor?
Making that decision known is important, as the law around organ and tissue donation is set to change to an opt-out system from March 2021.
Scotland has made huge strides in increasing transplant rates over the past decade, thanks to the generosity of those who choose to become donors and their families.
There is high support for organ donation in Scotland, which has the highest number of people in the UK currently on the NHS Organ Donor Register. But the reality is that there are people in Scotland still waiting for a transplant to save and improve their lives.
The move to an opt-out system is part of a package of measures to continue to improve transplantation rates – and the lives of those for whom the wait continues.
The change in law means that if people aged 16 and over have not recorded a decision about donation, they will be considered as a possible donor when they die.
Organ and tissue donation remains a personal decision and everyone has a choice – to either register to be a donor or opt out of donation.
Whatever you decide, it’s important to record that decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register at any time, from now and in the lead up to the law changing, and share it with family so they are able to honour your decision.

Donor family case study

A woman who honoured her husband’s decision to donate his organs has shared her story to mark Organ Donation Week (7 – 13 September 2020).
Jane Hall’s husband George became an organ donor in 2015 after losing his life to a brain hemorrhage, aged 56.
The decision to allow donation to proceed was eased by the fact that the family had talked about what they would want to happen – and Jane has encouraged more people to have that important conversation.
From March 2021, Scottish organ and tissue donation law is changing to an opt out system. Everyone has a choice – to either register to be a donor or opt out – and people can register their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register at any time.
Jane said: “I’m incredibly proud of my husband and his legacy. Even though as a family we’ve suffered a tremendous loss, his decision has given life to others which has brought comfort.
“Talking about death is never easy, but it’s so important. Knowing George's wishes made that decision so much easier at the worst of times, and people’s lives were saved as a result.
“If you want to be an organ donor, make this the Week you share your decision.”

Find out more about the opt out system of organ and tissue donation, and the choices available at organdonationscotland.org.