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The Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel is launching a review into the Health Minister’s plans to introduce a new opt-out organ donation system, which are expected to be published as a draft law at the end of the month.
Under an opt-out system, most people in Jersey would be presumed to be happy to donate their organs on their death, unless they have signed up to a register stating that they do not want that to happen.
This system has already been adopted in a number of other jurisdictions including Wales. Scotland and England have also proposed similar opt-out systems.
A 2017 survey found that 14% of Jersey adults were currently on the Organ Donation Register (Jersey Opinions & Lifestyle Survey Report 2017).
Deputy Richard Renouf, Chairman of the Panel, said: “Organ donors provide a vital service to society by saving and improving the lives of thousands of people each year, but organ donation is also a deeply emotive and personal issue. The Health Minister’s aim to increase the number of potential organ donors on the Island is laudable but we want to understand how a new opt-out system would work in practice and ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for vulnerable people.”
We have launched a review into @andrewgreenjsy's plans for a new opt-out organ donation system in #Jersey. Find out more here: https://t.co/uoarcdUod7. Have your say by using #asktheministerjsy #organdonationjsy pic.twitter.com/eD0vOTauiM
— Jersey Scrutiny (@jerseyscrutiny) February 12, 2018
The review will asses the objectives in seeking to move from an opt-in to an opt-out system and how effective such systems are elsewhere. It will also try to understand whether the same experience is likely to be replicated in Jersey and how the proposed new system would work in practice.
The Scrutiny Panel wants to hear from Islanders so that their views and opinions on an opt-out organ donation system can be considered and addressed by the Health Minister. The Panel is inviting the public to suggest questions to ask the Health Minister about #organdonationjsy via a new social media campaign called #asktheministerjsy.
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Senator Andrew Green, welcomed plans to review his intended new approach to organ donation. While last year’s Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey showed a majority of Islanders were in favour of the move, the proposed system would incorporate safeguards. These would enable anyone to opt out if they wished and ensure that families continue to have a say in whether organ donation goes ahead. There would also be some vulnerable groups who would be excluded from the new arrangements. Those positions will all be scrutinised as part of the review.
Pictured: Senator Andrew Green will soon be releasing a proposition on an opt-out organ donation scheme.
If approved, the new law would not come into effect for at least a year so as to allow time for a public information campaign to inform islanders of the change as well as of the choices available to them.
Senator Green said he was pleased to soon be able to bring his proposition to the assembly and is eager to work with the Scrutiny panel ahead of the debate. He said: “I’m particularly keen that the focus on the issue will mean that regardless of whether they are for or against the scheme, it may prompt Islanders to have that important conversation about donation with their families while they are still fit and well, rather than leaving it until the emotive aftermath of a potentially fatal accident. Many people only realise the importance of organ donation when they become exposed to it. Donating an organ saves lives and substantially improves the recipient’s health and quality of life. It can mean that something positive emerges from the tragic loss of a loved one.”
Guernsey's Health Department also announced today that they were considering the introduction of "a soft opt-out organ donation scheme" locally. They'll be launching a consultation tomorrow, which will run until late March.
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