Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and the Irish Donor Network, of which CFI is a founding member, welcomes the significant progress made last night in enacting soft opt out organ donation.
The Human Tissue Bill, which contains the necessary powers to change the present form of organ donor consent from opt in to opt out, passed the Report Stage in Dail Eireann on Wednesday 8th November. Our hope is that the Bill will be fully enacted before Christmas or early in the new year.
Under the proposed system, the next of kin of potential organ donors will still have the final say and those who wish to opt-out will be able to so on an online register, which will ensure their wishes are fully respected. Previous research has shown that most people living in Ireland are willing to donate organs. There are over 600 people waiting for a life saving transplant in Ireland. More resources are also needed, including better access to more theatre time for transplantation and additional wards for preparation and recovery. We note that research from Wales shows that it can take two to three years for the full impact of soft-opt organ donation out is fully realised, but research shows a significant increase in the transplantation as an outcome of changing organ donor consent to opt out.
CFI and patient groups involved in the Irish Donor Network (IDN) have been campaigning for many years for Soft Opt-Out Organ Donation, which has improved the rate of transplantation in other countries, most recently in Wales but also countries such Spain which consistently has the highest rate of transplantation/organ donation in the world
We have urged the government to accompany the legislation with a major public awareness campaign, which they have promised to do. CFI is a member of an advisory group for a public awareness programme coordinated by the Office for Organ Donation and Transplantation Ireland (ODTI). .
CFI Welcomes the statement by Minister Stephen Donnelly TD below:
From Department of Health
Published on Wednesday 8th November 2023
"The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has welcomed the passing of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill 2022 in the Dáil this evening.
The Bill represents a significant step forward in the regulation of human tissue use in Ireland. It provides a comprehensive legal framework for the donation of organs for transplantation, the carrying out of post-mortem examinations, the use of bodies and body parts for anatomical examination and education, and the public display of bodies and body parts.
The Bill will embed in law the idea that consent, where appropriate, is the defining principle across these sensitive areas and introduce safeguards to protect the integrity of the human body before and after death.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said:
"The continued progress of this Bill is important for healthcare in Ireland. It will ensure that we have robust, transparent and ethical processes in place for the use of human tissue. This will not only protect the rights and dignity of individuals and their families but also support medical research and education."
The Minister expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the development and passage of the Bill, including healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups, legal experts, and members of the Dáil.
Minister Donnelly concluded:
"This Bill is about respect – respect for the generosity of donors, respect for the dignity of the deceased, and respect for the trust which the public places in the healthcare system. We look forward to the positive impact this legislation will have on the lives of patients waiting for transplants and on the advancement of medical science in Ireland."
The Bill will now proceed to the Seanad for consideration."