The Poll

What we think about the poll subject

(please note: this is our opinion only)

There are currently 8000 people (many of them children) in the UK waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Tragically, for 1000 of those people, their wait will be in vain. This is due to the chronic lack of organ donors. This need not be the case. Reseach shows that 90% of the population of the UK support Organ Donation, yet only 26% have joined the Organ Donor Register. This is mostly due to inertia.

Most of the countries with the highest rate of registered donors have an 'OPT OUT' system and we believe that, if the UK adopted this system, it would dramatically increase the number of organs available - meaning more lives saved.

When this idea first hit the headlines, there were many negative comments in the press and on some message boards. Most of them were unfounded and ill researched, highlighting the lack of understanding that many people have about organ donation. There is definately a need for greater public education on the subject, which we would like to see going hand in hand with the 'OPT OUT' system, along with an increse in transplant co-ordinators (which has worked very successfully in Spain).

The 'OPT OUT' system seeks to save lives and, contrary to some sensationalist headlines, is not coercive. Sadly, there will always be some people who are srongly opposed to organ donation - they will have the option to opt out. We wonder whether the same inertia will be present if this sytem were to be adopted?

If you'd like to comment on our current poll subject, simply fill in the form below the other comments and click on the 'Submit Your Comment' button. We look forward to hearing from you...

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Daniel was lucky to have received two transplants in his short lifetime. As Daniel's family we will always be grateful to two very special families who gave Daniel such an incredible gift. Raising awareness of the need for more people to sign the Organ Donor Register is very important to us.

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