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New Hope
For Local Transplant Patients.
The new laws will mean new hope for 7 local patients
waiting for an organ transplant.
 New
legislation on organ retention, donation and transplantation has been passed
in the Scottish Parliament and has received the full backing of local Labour
MSP Allan Wilson.
The Cunninghame North MSP says the new laws will mean new hope for 7 local
patients waiting for an organ transplant – including those who currently
face gruelling sessions on kidney dialysis machines.
Speaking shortly after the bill was passed Allan Wilson MSP said:
"Over 400 people in the UK die each year while waiting for an organ
transplant. There are seven people in this area alone listed for an organ
transplant by UK Transplant. Two people in the Saltcoats area , a further
two in each of the Kilbirnie and Dalry areas and one on Arran all awaiting
an organ donation to stay alive or restore their quality of life."
"For some people organ donation is a big decision to contemplate, for others
there is only one answer."
"Thousands of local people already carry organ donor cards and have made a
positive choice to put their name on the NHS Organ Donor Register. This will
save lives – and the fact that their wishes will be respected and not
over-ridden by anyone in the event of their death will be an added comfort.”
"If more people can be encouraged to register as a donor and leave it to
someone else to donate then these seven local people can be given fresh hope
that their donor will be found"
"This is a very sensitive issue but one that will save lives and provide
piece of mind to donors. The Bill has attempted to strengthen current laws
and strike a balance between increasing the number of much needed organs and
ensuring the wishes of patients' are respected after death. I believe this
Bill has achieved this.
Note:
The new
legislation will:
1. Strengthen the current opt-in donation system to act more like a living
will – meaning if you carry a donor card no one (including relatives) can
over-ride your decision.
2. Give authorisation on donation of the deceased’s organs to the nearest
relative (or long-standing friend where no relative exists).
3. See doctors charged if they removed organs without consent.
The British Medical Association believe 90% of people in Scotland supported
organ donation yet only 21% carried organ donor cards.
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