Poll: Should an 'opt-out' system for organ donation be introduced?

Should your organs automatically be used for transplant after your death, unless you specifically request them not to be?

SEVENTY PER CENT of donor hearts collected in Ireland last year were sent overseas for use because of sizing and blood group issues.

However, 2010 also marked the lowest rate of organ donation recorded in Ireland – a country that is already one of the worst performing countries for donations in Europe.

Last week, the Minister for Health James Reilly announced plans to change the current ‘opt-in’ system, under which people have the opportunity to volunteer their organs through the use of a donor card, or their families are able to grant permission following their death.

Reilly aims to propose that the system is switched to an ‘opt-out’ system instead, which would mean that a person’s organs would automatically be harvested unless they specifically requested them not to be.

What do you think – should a new ‘opt-out’ system for organ donation (where organs are automatically harvested) be introduced?

Poll Results:

Yes (1241)

No (228)

I don't know (44)

Yes
No
I don't know

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