We have warned, together with the Donate4Dáithí campaign, that unless urgent action is taken, the opportunity to introduce a soft opt-out organ donation bill in Northern Ireland is just days away.
With the Stormont Parliament's summer recess fast approaching and the next Parliamentary elections due in less than a year, time is fast running out to legislate for soft opt-out organ donation.
Health Minister Robin Swann has called for major legislation to introduce a soft opt-out organ donation system in Northern Ireland to be brought forward through the fast track procedure. The request must be assented to by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister before being tabled in Parliament.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill has agreed to move the bill forward but First Minister Paul Givhan now must agree within days to carry out the initial stages of debate on the bill before the summer recess.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that does not have a soft opt-out system for organ donation. Under the proposed bill, everyone would be presumed to be a donor unless they formally opt out. Families would still be consulted about organ donation and any religious or belief considerations. This would not change.
Don't miss this opportunity
Northern Ireland leader Feargal McKinney said the opportunity to introduce this potentially life-saving legislation was being missed.
“We have an incredible opportunity here to change the lives of people on the transplant waiting list,” he said.
“Since 2015, we have seen the difference this change has made, with family consent increasing by almost 50% in Wales in the first two years after the change to an opt-out system, and we cannot delay any longer in putting Northern Ireland on that path.”
“With every day that passes, we're one step closer to losing this opportunity. Our state lawmakers should have the opportunity to consider, scrutinize and debate this important bill on soft opt-out organ donation. The Legislature needs a chance to have a conversation, and the early stages of the legislative process need to take place before the summer recess to allow time for maximum scrutiny of this mandate.”
“We owe that to everyone on the transplant waiting list.”
Ending uncertainty
Daithi McGovern, from West Belfast, was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, meaning he only has half a functioning heart. The four-year-old has been waiting nearly three years for the gift of a new heart. His parents Martin and Seph and their family are leading the local campaign to change the law.
Martin said:
“The stall over soft opt-out organ donation is a very worrying time for our families and the Donate4Dáithí movement. We know there is a lot of uncertainty at the moment, but this bill for a soft opt-out system is incredibly important and deserves the best chance of being passed.”
“Around 2,000 people responded to the public consultation that we helped Minister Swann launch in December 2020. The vast majority of responses have been overwhelmingly positive and this matter should immediately be on the parliamentary agenda.”
Martin called on political leaders to act.
“We are calling on the Prime Minister to either comply with Health Minister Robin Swann's emergency procedures today to begin the democratic process, or to place the soft opt-out on this week's executive agenda for formal approval.”
“It would be heartbreaking for our families if this does not pass in this mandate, after all the hard work we have done. But it would be even worse if soft opt-out organ donation is not even given a chance to pass. We laid the groundwork for this when we had no government and Dicey united all parties during that time. Minister Swann said last week that this Bill is at a critical stage. It needs to be agreed to give it a first and second reading in Parliament this week. We cannot afford any further delays.”
What it means to receive a heart transplant
