TY - JOUR T1 - Organ donation: a national consultation JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 60 LP - 61 DO - 10.3399/bjgp18X694433 VL - 68 IS - 667 AU - David Misselbrook Y1 - 2018/02/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/68/667/60.abstract N2 - The UK Government is holding a consultation on a proposed change to the law on the use of organs from dead donors, so called ‘deceased transplants’.1 The headline issue is whether England should move from an ‘opt-in’ system of organ donation, where my organs will be used if I have given prior consent, to an ‘opt out’ system, which will require me to register a prior objection if I do not wish to be a posthumous donor. Both possibilities come in ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ options, a soft option giving relatives a final say.The main arguments for changing to opt-out is the reasonable hope that it should increase the number of organs available for donation. This is a powerful consideration in view of the suffering and mortality in those awaiting transplants. In the UK 1000 people die every year while waiting for a donated organ. It would be good to reduce this number. The actual reduction expected from such a change is less clear though. Studies from countries changing to an opt-out system show an increase in organ availability, but also suggest that factors such as greater public awareness and greater acceptability of discussing donation with bereaved relatives may account for much of this.2However, a change to an opt-out system would be contentious. Two issues often get confused. The first is the ethical issue of our duties to the dead. But, second, there are emotive issues that affect … ER -