Today is a very positive day for Northern Ireland as 'Daithi’s Law' comes into effect. This law brings in a new form of organ donor consent to the North. All adults in Northern Ireland will be considered potential organ donors unless they choose to opt out or are in a designated excluded group – this is called a Soft Opt Out approach to organ donation.
The evidence strong to support Soft Opt Out legislation: Wales introduced the law in 2015 and by 2018 the chance of consent in Wales was double that seen in England and donor numbers have also risen more rapidly.
The ‘Soft Opt Out’ legislation commenced its legislative process in Ireland in Nov 2022 as part of the Human Tissue Bill and CFI, as part of the Irish Donor Network, are looking forward with anticipation to the Bill being enacted later this summer, all being well. The Irish Donor Network, which comprises 8 patient groups, including CFI, will shortly publish our latest submission on this important step forward to maximise the potential of the ‘gift of life’.
See also:
20th December 2022:
29th November 2022:
https://www.cfireland.ie/about-cf/latest-news/cystic-fibrosis-ireland-warmly-welcomes-cabinet-approval-of-the-human-tissue-bill-including-soft-opt-out-organ-donor-consent-calls-for-greater-resourcing
2nd May 2019:
https://www.cfireland.ie/about-cf/latest-news/cfi-statement-on-soft-opt-out-organ-donation
27th February 2019:
17th September 2018: