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Automatically making all islanders organ donors unless they explicitly object may not be enough to increase organ donation alone, the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel has said.
In a recent report, the Panel said that the opt-out approach should be accompanied by other measures, including a "high profile and sustained public awareness campaign."
There are currently only 14% of adult islanders on the NHS Organ Donor Register, which is significantly lower than the UK, 38%. To drive up the numbers, the Health Minister, Senator Andrew Green, published a Human Transplantation and Anatomy Law which would introduce an opt-out organ donation system, where people would be presumed to consent to their organs being donated after they die, unless they have opted out of the national organ donation register.
The proposal will be debated in the States Assembly on 9 April, but the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel - Deputy Richard Renouf (Chairman), Deputy Geoff Southern (Vice Chairman), Deputy Terry McDonald, Deputy Jackie Hilton and Senator Sarah Ferguson - said the opt out system will not be enough to increase numbers.
The Panel recently completed an Organ Donation review, with one of their key findings being that an "opt-out organ donation system is likely to increase the number of potential organ donors but so far there is little evidence to suggest that it will increase the number of organ donations unless it is accompanied by other measures, such as public awareness campaigns."
They noted: "It is clear that adopting an opt-out approach will not in itself increase organ donation. The evidence suggests that this must be accompanied by other measures, not least an increase in public awareness. A high profile and sustained public awareness campaign must accompany the introduction of this legislation to ensure that more lives can be saved and enhanced through organ donation. This will also make it more likely that families will discuss this important matter long before the situation ever arises."
Pictured: The Health Minister, Senator Andrew Green hopes the new system will make sure "as many organs as possible are available."
The Health Minister assured that £20,000 has been set aside for a communication campaign, which will include leaflets being dropped to all households, libraries, GP surgeries, Parish Halls, as well as media announcements, social media posts and branded refuse trucks and buses, and banners on roadsides. However, the Scrutiny panel says it is far below what Wales spent on a similar campaign in 2015, £3.4million, which is roughly £1.10 per person in Wales compared to roughly 20p per person in Jersey.
Neil MacLachlan, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Founder of the Jersey Love Hearts Appeal said that the campaign had seen "every household in Wales receiving a leaflet through their door, as well as TV adverts, supermarket roadshows and “flashmobs” at Cardiff train station.”
The Scrutiny Panel recommended that the Health Minister consider "increasing the budget in light of the experience in Wales and the fact that Jersey is not able to sign people up to the NHS Organ Donor Register via the driving licence application process."
They also recommended that the campaign materials be translated into other languages, especially Portuguese and Polish. Furthermore, while the campaign is due to take place between the time the law is adopted and 1 July 2019, which is when Health Services hope to introduce the opt-out system, the Scrutiny Panel says it be ongoing and extend beyond the year prior to the change in the Law.
Deputy Richard Renouf, Chairman of the Panel, commented: “Organ donation saves and enhances lives but it is also an emotive and personal issue. We checked that the Law allows people to opt-out and also safeguards vulnerable people. The Law includes these protections.
"Unfortunately, Jersey presently has a low rate of organ donation and moving to an opt-out system will not necessarily mean that the rate will increase. For that to happen, organ donation should become an issue which is discussed within families and regularly promoted in public life.”
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