EURO DONOR CARD WOULD HELP ORGAN SHORTAGE - MEP

9.31.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Apr 2008

Organ trafficking and the chronic shortage of organs legally available for transplant operations are two issues addressed in a report to be adopted by the European Parliament later today.

The vote is expected to show a majority of MEPs are in favour of new legislation on organ donation, including an EU-wide donor card system, accompanied by a 24-hour transplant hotline, which it is hoped would alleviate organ shortages.

Liz Lynne MEP (LibDem), Vice President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and member of the Human Rights Subcommittee said:

"Across the EU 40,000 people are on waiting lists and some ten people a day die waiting for a transplant; including at least one a day in the UK, because the right organ was not available. The EU-wide donor card and transplant hotline could significantly speed up the process of finding the right donor. It is important to note that the new card would not replace existing national donor card systems.

"If organ donation was expanded and speeded up, the demand for illegally trafficked organs would also decrease. It is known that organs are bought for cash in Eastern Europe and elsewhere and that this trade is increasing. More research and cooperation on organ trafficking and transplant tourism is badly needed. In addition all remaining Member States must sign the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime to help combat this trade."

On the rights of individuals to decide, Liz Lynne added:

"Ultimately however, people's fundamental rights must be respected. Becoming a potential donor is a personal choice which would need to be enshrined in any future legislation, as would the outlawing of discrimination against potential donors on the basis of disabilities which would have no bearing on a patient's health."

ENDS

Notes:

The new card system would compliment, not replace existing donor card systems. Rules of implementation, such as whether to have an 'opt in' or 'opt out' donor system, would be left to Member States.

More information and link to the report: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/file.jsp?id=5531962