From tomorrow, all adults in Northern Ireland will be considered potential organ donors unless they choose to opt out or are in an excluded group.
"The opt-out system means that all adults in NI, unless in an excluded group which includes children under 18 years, those who lack capacity to understand the new law and those who are temporarily resident in NI, will be considered to be organ donors after death unless they chose to opt-out. Last year in Northern Ireland, 96 patients received a life-saving transplant from a deceased donor, and NI had 59 donors who enabled 140 life-saving transplants across the UK. Sadly, 10-15 patients die each year in NI while awaiting a transplant.
“The new law aims to increase the rate of consent and ultimately the number of lifesaving organs available for transplantation.”