An opt-out organ donation system is worth considering

When someone dies, the last thing on the mind of a bereaved family is whether their loved one would have wanted their organs to be donated.

But the current law means it is the relatives who have the final say unless the deceased has previously chosen to donate. The opt-in system has left a serious shortage of organ donors in the UK.

The fact that every day one person dies while on a transplant waiting list should be enough for politicians to seriously review the system.

Establishing an automatic right to take organs when the donor has not expressed wishes to the contrary would lead to a significant increase in the number of potential donors.

And the relatives of the person who has not expressed a wish to donate would be relieved of the burden of making that decision at such an awful time.

Another strong argument in favour of an opt-out law is to stop the growth of the global illegal trade in body parts.

The black market enables those desperate to make money to literally sell themselves.

But if the number of organs available was to increase, then this would go a long way in stopping the exploitation of poorer people who endanger their health because they are desperate for quick money.

One fear of the opt-out system is that people will not get around to registering an objection and the expectation that organ donation should take place could lead to unnecessary distress to their relatives.

But greater education about the issue would not only stop this happening, but encourage more people to think about how their death could help other people.

A central database that matches available organs to patients on the waiting list is used in the US.

If presumed consent was adopted in the UK, a similar database could be used, meaning opportunities for compatible donors would be more likely and the process would be more efficient.

If you are willing to receive a life-saving transplant you should be willing to donate.

Introducing the opt-out system does not remove people's opportunity to choose, it simply gives more people the chance to live.