What are your feelings on the "opt-out organ donation" system ? Right or wrong?

At present organs can only be taken from people who have actively chosen to be donors, and carry donor cards.

Under the presumed consent system, everybody would be viewed as a potential donor unless they had registered an objection or "opted out" before death.

Or is it a BIG con and only a method of saving money. For someone with kidney failure dialysis costs 拢25,300 a year.
A transplant costs 拢45,900 initially followed by annual treatment costs of 拢7,100.

Predicted savings more than 拢500m over the next decade.

I think the patient should come first and it is not up to the state to decide what becomes of people's bodies when they die.

It still is up to the individual (and their family). If you're really against it, go register that. Problem solved.

The same point. People who feel strongly enough about the issue have it in place right now. Register with a donor card. Problem solved.
Some good answers though but I was thinking more on moral grounds. Try to put aside the feelings you may have if you have been affected by the lack of organs. I still think it should be up to the patient and not left to any family member who may or may not have the same views of the patients wishes.

I just want to be sure that when one of mine is really sick that every effort will be made to cure him or her, and it not seen as good chance to remove their organs. I fear it is open to corruption of the worst kind. I think our present donation system is right. Like many of the people who have answered here I dont mind donating my organs and I carry a card......But I still think it should be my choice. I have told my GP and I have made a living will....It is still MY choice.

That it should be up to the individual what they do with their bodies, and that any state intervention would be completely wrong.

Personally, with the demand for organs, I think an opt-out idea is a good idea. I have no objection for any part of me being used when I'm dead - its of no use to me then! But I have always carried a donor card anyhow.

Since you can opt out (and even if you don't, they ask the family) I think it's a good system. You won't have any use for your own organs after you die, so why shouldn't doctors be able to ask the family: "can we please use the organs for people who need it?"

It still is up to the individual (and their family). If you're really against it, go register that. Problem solved.

I had a family member dying waiting for a kidney transplant, so not long after I had it registered explicitely (so that my dad can't say no, he's a bit backwards about that so I'm sure he'd decide against it if asked whether my organs could be donated) that I'm willing to be a donor after death.

I don't want other people going through what I went through because their loved ones couldn't get a transplant in time.

I'm with Sal Uk - I too have had a donor card for many years and if the surgeons want any of my 'bits' after I've 'snuffed it' sobeit - they're very welcome to take them if it means that someone else will live that much longer.

Isn't that the true definition of altruism???

I don,t think it,s down to money,but a really strong campaign to get people to carry donor cards would be a good thing.I personally carry a donor card and think many more would with a bit of encouragement.

There is a side of the argument that the deceased person may want to donate and have the card and registered with the organ donors but the next of kin still says that they dont want the organs donated so other people whose lives can be saved would miss out its a very sensitive issue but i think what the goverment is proposing is a good idea as it saves lives that is the most important part of this issue.

As a holder of a donor card I think that it should be an opt-out system.
I also don't think that relatives should be given the option to 'change' the donors decision by having to be asked for permission for the donation to go ahead.
My husband doesn't like the idea of organ donation but I have supported it since I was 16 or so. I'm still not sure if my husband would respect my wishes and allow the donation if he was asked, even after being with him for 20 years. He tends to ignore the subject.
If it saves money for other treatments then surely that would only be a good thing.

The replacement of organs is now an every day treatment of organ failure and has become a lifeline to many people. There are many people who 3 times a week rely on dialysis for cleansing their blood because their kidneys have failed. Often they have to visit hospitals and make a long journey to do so. Whereas two donor kidneys can change the life of 2 people for life. The same for cornea grafting from donor eyes. The blind can now see. The organs quite literally rot at death and are of no use so why not have an opt out system. Then the organs required to help these poor sick people would probably be plentiful. Most people when asked, would they allow their organs to be used after their death, answer yes, but never get around to registering as a donor. It is not as you suggest about saving money but more about giving not only life but also quality of life to people our fellow inhabitants of this Earth.

A fantastic idea that has worked very well previously in Spain.

I think its rather selfish to opt out - what do you need your organs for when your dead?

iTS OK OPTING OUT, BUT WHAT IF YOU OPT OUT AND THEN BECOME ILL AND IN NEED OF AN ORGAN? WHY SHOULD YOU BE GIVEN ONE IF YOU WERE NOT PREPARED TO BE A DONOR YOURSELF