Organ donation bill ‘can change lives’

A MAJOR bill that could change the lives of many people living on the organ donor list has passed its second reading at Stormont and will now go in front of the Health Committee.

If it becomes law, the new legislation would mean that all people in the North will automatically be put on the organ donor list but can opt out of this arrangement if they wish.

This law is already in place throughout the UK and has led to a larger number of people on the donation register and more people getting transplants.

Politicians from all the parties voted in favour of the bill, which passed by a majority vote of 69 to
six. Until June, the DUP had blocked attempts to pass any bill surrounding an opt-out scheme.

However, at the last reading only five members of the party voted against the bill and some members, including current First Minister Paul Girvan, openly supported it.

Fearghal McKinney, who is the Head of The British Heart Foundation in Northern Ireland, has said that this bill could change the lives of people here.

He said, “We have a great opportunity here to change the lives of those who are on the transplant waiting list. We have seen the difference the change has made in Wales since 2015, where family consent increased by nearly 50 per cent in the first two years after the change to an opt-out system.”

West Tyrone SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan, voted in favour of the Bill and said it must go through the next stage as quickly as possible.

He said, “I and the SDLP voted for this legislation on Monday, and welcome it.

“It is long overdue and will lead to many more lives being saved every year in hospitals in Northern
Ireland.

“There is no more time to waste. I and the SDLP believe that this Bill must be progressed as quickly as possible through the Assembly so we can change the lives of families everywhere in Northern Ireland who have been waiting for far too long for this life-changing news.”

The Health Minister, Robin Swann, who proposed the bill, has said it is a positive next step for people on the transplant list.

He said, “It is another positive step forward in what has been a long journey for all involved in the organ donation process. It has been a privilege to bring the second stage of the bill to the Assembly and very timely that Assembly colleagues have agreed to the motion during Organ Donation Week.”

BY Thomas Maher

t.maher@ulsterherald.com