The Public Health Agency today launched a new public awareness campaign to prepare for the introduction of the 'Daily Law' from spring 2023.
The Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Act 2022 (Northern Ireland), known as the “Dice Act”, received Royal Assent in March 2022. Named after five-year-old organ donation campaigner Dice Mac Gavan, who waited almost four years for the gift of a new heart, the new Act changes Northern Ireland's organ donation system to an opt-out system. This means that when faced with the possibility of organ donation after death, all adults are deemed to have consented to organ donation unless they choose to opt out or are in an excluded group*. The best way to opt out is to register your decision. Not donating your organs to the NHS Organ Donor Register.
The changes to the law are due to come into force next spring after a thorough process that saw almost two years of public consultation, as well as consideration and debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation saves and transforms hundreds of lives every year. This new law will help more people to save more lives by making it easier for people who support organ donation to say 'yes' to giving the 'gift of life'. This is because while 90% of people in Northern Ireland support organ donation, only 51% have registered their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Only 1% of people die in a situation where organ donation is possible – usually while on a ventilator in hospital – which shows the organ shortage and how precious organ donation is. Sadly, 15 people died in Northern Ireland last year while waiting for a transplant.
Public Health chief executive Aidan Dawson welcomed the new campaign, saying:
“The aim of this information campaign is to ensure that the changes are fully understood by all segments of the public and that as many people as possible are aware of the changes and how to register their wishes. The campaign also emphasises that organ donation is a personal decision and that everyone can choose whether or not they want to donate their organs. Public Health encourages everyone to find out more about the changes, consider their decision and make sure to share what your decision is with those close to you.”
Last year, 55 families in Northern Ireland were supported with the gift of organ donation, enabling 127 life-saving transplant operations across the UK. Organ donation is the most precious gift and the selfless act of donors and their families is at the heart of organ donation. Last year, 100 lives were saved and transformed in Northern Ireland through organ donation, but there are around 122 people waiting for a transplant, waiting for the call to give them the 'gift of life'.
Helping to launch the new campaign were Daith and her parents Martin and Seph. Daithi's father, Martin, spoke of how proud they are to see Daithi's law and the new campaign:
“We are delighted to be here today and help launch this very important campaign. It is an honour for our family that this legislation will become known as Daithi's Law, and it is even greater to know that this campaign is beginning to make people aware of what the change in the law means specifically to them. Organ donation is always a gift, the greatest gift one can give.”
“Daiti has been waiting for the gift of a new heart for nearly four years now and we are honored to have been able to play a part in changing the law. Along with continuing education and awareness of organ donation, we believe this is a great step in the right direction.”
As well as raising awareness of the legal changes, the campaign also highlights the importance of a shared decision about organ donation. If the worst happens, families find the discussion of organ donation much easier if they already know what their relative would have wanted. Only half of families agree to go ahead with organ donation if they don't know their loved one's decision, but this rises to nine in 10 if the family has had the discussion.
Until and after the law changes next spring, you can continue to register your opt-in decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. Doing so will actively demonstrate your support for organ donation and give your loved ones the confidence and reassurance that they support your decision.
- For more information about organ donation, legal changes, or consenting to or refusing to donate organs, please visit: Organ Donations Or call our dedicated advice line on 0300 303 2094.
- *Groups excluded from the new deemed consent law include:
- Anyone under 18 years of age
- People who lack the mental capacity to understand changes in the law
- Visitors to Northern Ireland
- Temporary Resident
- Family involvement is always required before organ donation takes place
- Only half of family members would consent to organ donation if they did not know their loved one's wishes, but this increases to nine in 10 if they knew their loved one wanted organ donation.
- Whatever you decide, the best thing you can do is talk to your loved ones and give them the assurance they need to support your decision.
- Around 10 to 15 people die each year in Northern Ireland while waiting for a transplant.
- There are 122 people on the waiting list in Northern Ireland (annual figure for 2021-22).
- 90% of people in Northern Ireland support organ donation
- However, only 51% have signed the organ donor register.
- Only 1% of people die in a situation where organ donation is possible, so every organ donation is valuable.
- You can become a living donor. Across the UK, over 1,000 people each year donate a kidney or part of their liver while they are still alive to a relative, friend or stranger. Kidneys are the most common living donor organ donation. You can also receive part of a liver from a living donor to help someone who needs a liver transplant.
