Changes to Organ Donation - What is changing
From spring 2020, all adults in England will be considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they had recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups. This is commonly referred to as an ‘opt-out’ system.
Those excluded will be:
• people under 18
• people who have lived in England for less than 12 months before their death or who are not living here voluntarily
• people who lack the capacity to understand the change.
Adults covered by the change will still have a choice whether they want to be an organ donor and their families will still be involved before organ donation goes ahead.
Whatever decision people make, they should make their choice clear to their family and closest friends to help ensure that choice is honoured.
One organ donor can save or transform the lives of up to nine people, and help many more if they also donate tissue.
To find out more information on the change in the law, please visit organ donation.nhs.uk/opt-out
To find out more about your choices, including how to opt out visit organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 303 2094