Doctors open donor card debate

Organ donor cards may be scrapped - in favour of opt out cards

The British Medical Association in Wales is launching a debate on the need to change the way organs are donated.

Doctors are keen to see a system where patients have to opt out of donating organs, but nurses disagree.

The BMA is looking at the "opt out" donor card scheme, which would mean those people who do not want to donate their organs have to carry a card specifically saying so.

The Royal College of Nurses has voted against the scheme.

Tace Corcoran-Rees died awaiting a transplant

But the recent death of one-year-old Tace Corcoran-Rees after a desperate search for a new heart for her, focused attention on the shortage of organ donors.

There is an increasing gap between the demand for organs for transplant and the supply available.

Because organs are in such short supply, patients are usually only placed on the waiting list if they have reasonable chance of receiving one.

The number of transplants carried out in the UK actually declined by 7% in 1998 while the waiting list grew by 3%.

Continental success

The BMA said public opinion surveys in the UK consistently show that about 70% of those interviewed would be willing to donate organs after their death - but only 20% carry a donor card or sign up to the organ donor register.

The BMA believes this indicates that many more people would be willing to help someone else after their own death and that better ways should be found to improve the supply of organs.

The BMA is seeking to work in alliance with patient, nursing and medical organisations.

It will publish a policy document and launch its campaign in the next few weeks.

Doctors and nurses are split over donor cards

Doctors also point at the success of a similar "opt out" scheme on the continent which increased the number of organs available for transplants, and reduced the number of patients who die waiting for a transplant.

They said a public education campaign about the merits of organ donation should take place before introducing the scheme.

But not all health care professionals are in favour of the idea.

The RCN said there could be ethical problems surrounding children, mentally ill people and foreigners.

The RCN said more public consultation is needed.