A campaign has launched encouraging people in Lanarkshire not to leave loved ones in doubt when it comes to their organ and tissue donation decision.
NHS Lanarkshire is backing the national drive, urging people to register their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and share their decision with family and friends.
The Scottish Government's ‘Don’t Leave Your Loved Ones in Doubt’ campaign shares the perspective of an NHS blood and transplant specialist nurse approaching a potential donor family, highlighting the importance of making and sharing your organ and tissue donation decision to ensure loved ones are not left in any doubt about your choice and help to ensure your decision is honoured.
Under Scotland’s opt out system of organ and tissue donation, people aged 16 and over have the choice to be a donor, or to opt out of donation.
If people choose to do nothing, it is assumed they agree to be a donor if they die in circumstances where donation is possible, unless they are in a group for whom the law does not apply or donation would be against their views.
Recent figures show over half of people in Scotland (55.6 per cent) have now registered their donation decision – 52.6 per cent agreeing to be a donor and three per cent choosing to opt out.
Diane Bowler, specialist organ donation nurse at NHS Lanarkshire, told us : “Family and friends will always be involved in discussions about organ or tissue donation.
"A specialist nurse would discuss any registered decision, or lack of one, with family and friends in order to ascertain the individuals most recent views, which may have changed since the recording of any decision.”
Minister for public health, women’s health and pport, Maree Todd, added: “Organ and tissue donation is a personal decision and everyone has a choice, either to register to be a donor or to opt out.
“Whatever the decision, the Scottish Government is urging everyone to record it on the NHS Organ Donor Register and share that decision with their family and friends.”
People can register their donation decision and find out more online or by calling 0300 123 2323.
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