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Mark Griffin MSP backs Organ Donation Bill

Mark Griffin MSP backs Organ Donation Bill

Mark Griffin MSP is backing a bill in the Scottish Parliament that would amend the current ‘opt-in’ system of organ donation in Scotland, whereby those wishing to become a donor are encouraged to add their name to the NHS Organ Donation Register.

The Organ and Tissue Donation (Scotland) Bill instead proposes that the way people register be replaced with an ‘opt-out’ system, whereby people can choose to opt out of organ donation if they wish to.


Mark said:

“I fully support this Bill by my colleague Anne McTaggart MSP. Moving to an opt-out system will help to reduce the current waiting list for organs in Scotland, saving lives.”

“The Bill will give those who do not wish to partake in organ donation the opportunity to do so, and respects people’s choice not to do so, while also addressing the fact that many people who would be willing to donate have not signed up to the donor register.”

“There is strong evidence that many people want to donate their organs, but don’t get round to signing up to the organ donation register, and sadly this costs lives, this Bill will help to over-come that hurdle.”


David McColgan, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at British Heart Foundation Scotland said:

“Too many lives are being lost in the current system. To prevent families going through the heartache of losing a loved one, when a donor organ might save them, the law has to change. I also think that change to a soft opt-out system would encourage all of us to speak to our nearest and dearest about our views on organ donation so that our wishes are carried out.”


Dr Sue Robertson, a member of the BMA's Scottish Council and a renal physician, said:

"The BMA has long been a supporter of a move to an opt out system of organ donation, not only because we believe that it would have a positive effect on donation rates, but also because it gives added protection to those who do not wish to donate and makes it more likely that those who are willing to donate will be able to do so.

“There has been welcome progress in the number of people signing up to the Organ Donor Register and donation rates, but despite this rise, there are still people in Scotland waiting for an organ transplant. Some of these people will die while they are waiting, whilst others will have died without even reaching the list. “We believe that more can be done and more lives can be saved."

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  • You can contact my office by calling 01236 423 555.
  • You can email me at mark.griffin.msp@scottish.
    parliament.uk
  • You can also write to me at: Mark Griffin MSP, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP.

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