Sir Richard Branson: Why my friend is dying for a change in organ donor law

[Clark]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health-news/2011/11/17/sir-richard-branson-why-my-friend-is-dying-for-a-change-in-organ-donor-law-115875-23567318/#ixzz1dyFw9uA4

Sir Richard Branson: Why my friend is dying for a change in organ donor law
By Sir Richard Branson

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She had written to David Cameron but got no response and hoped maybe I was in a position where I could cut through the bureaucracy and get things done.

Fiona told me that, while 90% of the population support organ donation, just 29% are officially registered.

As I stood chatting to her in the street, I was embarrassed. I admitted that I had never signed up and did not have a donor card despite wishing to donate my organs when I die.

It had crossed my mind and was something I had debated over the years and therefore I felt guilty that I had not done something about it.

Then Fiona explained the proposed opt-out system to me, which makes carrying a donor card redundant.

This system, also known as 'presumed consent', is used with great success in other European countries, including France, Spain and Austria.

It is incredibly simple and saves thousands of lives every year.

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