Deputy asks for public to consider organ donation opt-out legislation
The deputy has a direct interest in the matter, as he had a kidney removed when he was 18. “I welcome the focus from Minister Harris in this consultation on hearing the view of people on ways to increase awareness of organ donation.” he says, “and to increase the number of organs donated in this country.”
Deputy Heydon adds that he has met families who have benefited from the positive effects of organ donation, and also people who have found comfort in the act of donation at the sad time of bereavement.
Ireland is one of just four EU countries, along with Germany, the Netherlands and the UK not to have an opt-out system in place. The system presumes one has given consent for organs to be used unless otherwise opted out on a register.
There were 280 organ transplants in Ireland in 2016, including 172 of kidneys, 58 livers, 35 lung operations and 15 heart transplants. There are at the moment 650 people on the waiting list for transplant operations, while only about 100 donors are among the 30,000 deaths annually in the state.
People can take part in the consultation online, and the closing date is 9 October 2017.
