Organ donor taskforce rejects move for opting out

THE introduction of "presumed consent" for the donation of vital organs is to be rejected by a Government taskforce, it was claimed today.

Gordon Brown has appeared to favour an overhaul of the law which would require people actively to opt out of the donor register if they do not want body parts transplanted after death.

But the Organ Donation Taskforce, set up by the Government to help increase the number of donors, will oppose the change next week, according to The Times.

It quoted a Whitehall source saying: "It's fair to say this report is not helpful to the case for a change in the law to presumed consent."

Such hostility from the taskforce, which includes healthcare professionals and lawyers, would undermine Mr Brown's case for a law change.

Many patients' groups are strongly opposed to the move and the Prime Minister himself voted against the proposed system in 2004.

However, earlier this year he indicated he was now more favourably disposed to the change.

He said: "A system of this kind seems to have the potential to close the aching gap between the potential benefits of transplant surgery in the UK and the limits imposed by our current system of consent."