Organ donation law revised in honor of Max and Keira

Plans to change the rules around consent for organ donation in the UK have cleared the final hurdle in parliament.

The bill would be known as “Max and Keira’s Law,” after the boy who received a heart transplant and the girl who provided it.

Under the new system, which will take effect next year, consent will be assumed unless you opt out.

Voluntary opt-in schemes currently exist. Presumed consent has been in place in Wales since December 2015.

Government ministers claim UK rule changes could increase the number of organs available and save up to 700 lives a year.

Keira Ball, from Devon, was involved in a car accident with her mother and younger brother when she was nine years old.

Her father Joe was contacted by the organ donation consent team after doctors in Bristol confirmed they could not save her life.

He told the BBC: “We never talked about organ donation, but I knew that was what Keira wanted. It was in her nature.” .

Keira’s organs were used to save the lives of four people, including Max Johnson, who was also nine years old at the time, and received her heart.

At the time of Keira’s accident, Max was in a Newcastle hospital suffering from heart failure due to a viral infection.

He was kept alive by a mechanical pump.

He told the BBC: “To be honest, I thought I was going to die. I didn’t think I would live. I hugged my mom and dad thinking this was the last hug I would have with my parents.”

The surgery was a success, and Max, now 11, is doing well, but the anti-rejection drugs he must take every day can make him very unwell.

Max’s story inspired the Prime Minister to pledge to introduce presumed consent for organ donation in the UK.

Around 6,000 people are currently on the transplant waiting list in the UK, and more than 400 patients died last year while waiting for a suitable organ.

The new system will encourage people to register their consent for organ donation or opt out.

Relatives can still prevent donations, so it is important that families discuss their wishes.

Both Max and Keira’s families support public education campaigns.

Roanna Ball, Keira’s mother, told the BBC: “If this issue was raised in school from an early age, children would be happy to talk about it with their friends and family. It would be part of everyday conversation. It will be,” he said.

The family set up charity work To honor her memory and provide support to the bereaved family.

Max said: “I want everyone to have a discussion: If someone in your family dies, would you rather let their organs go to waste and rot, or would you save a few lives? ” he said.

The new law was a private member’s bill introduced by Rep. Jeffrey Robinson.

The bill was piloted by Lord Hunt, who passed it through the House of Lords, and he told the BBC he was “really pleased” it was on track to become law, adding: “I am confident that more organs will be donated as a result. “I have,” he added. As a result, lives were saved. ”

The most common transplants are: