Thursday 22nd February

Soft Opt Out Organ Donation Bill is passed

Thursday 22nd February 2024

Soft Opt Out Organ Donation Bill is passed

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, as part of the Irish Donor Network, warmly welcomes the introduction of Soft Opt-Out, as part of the Human Tissue Bill 2022. The bill was passed in the Oireachtas on Wednesday 21st February 2024 and will now go to Uachtarán na hÉireann to be signed into law.

The Human Tissue Bill introduces a Soft Opt-Out system of consent for organ donation. Under this system, consent for organ donation will be deemed unless the person has, while alive, registered their wish not to become an organ donor after death.

This is a change from the current system where decisions on organ donation are the responsibility of the next-of-kin and assumes that an individual has a desire to donate their organs after their death unless they make a statement of objection to donation.

Although the wishes of the deceased should be central to any decision, families will continue to be consulted as part of a safe and respectful organ donation process.

The Human Tissue Bill also provides a framework for the donation of organs and tissues and cells from living donors including the introduction of a legislative basis for non-directed altruistic living donation. The Bill provides the first comprehensive underpinning of organ donation and transplantation in Ireland, including both deceased and living donations.

It is anticipated that these measures will help to increase the donor pool in the State and will encourage organ donation to save lives in circumstances where this is possible.

Sarah Tecklenborg, Interim CEO, CFI stated: “This is a landmark and positive development for organ donation in Ireland. This legislation will improve transplant and organ donation rates giving our members who are waiting for lung and kidney donations, and many others, the gift of life.”

CFI welcomes the announcement by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly of €1.6 million in funding for organ donation and transplant services in 2024 which will support and maximise the outputs from progressing this Programme for Government commitment. This funding will support the implementation of the early phases of the 2024-2026 Organ Donation Transplant Ireland’s (ODTI) Strategic Plan, with the goal of increasing organ availability for transplantation, reducing the existing transplant waiting list of 601 people, funding the expansion of the National Potential Donor Audit (PDA), and promoting organ donation through the implementation of the Human Tissue Bill and a public awareness campaign.