The Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) bill has now passed the Committee and Report Stages in the House of Lords, which means that it’s very close to becoming law. The Committee Stage itself featured a healthy debate into organ donation, the importance of education and an awareness raising campaign about the change in the law. The Report Stage was brief and to the point – as there were no amendments the bill can now move forward to its final reading.
There is hope that the bill could become law in the next few months, and will be named Max and Keira’s Law in honour of two children who have been bound together by the power of organ donation; Keira Ball’s heart was donated by her parents last year, saving Max Johnson’s life.
Baroness Randerson and Baroness Thornton both thanked Kidney Care UK for our work supporting the Bill, and Baroness Thornton highlighted that it is important not to forget that every single day people are dying waiting for a kidney transplant.
Lord Philip Hunt (right), who brought the bill to the House of Lords, highlighted the importance of making sure your loved ones know how you feel about organ donation, stating that nothing in the new law would override the vital importance of families talking about their wishes and making sure they know how they all feel about organ donation.
Fiona Loud, Policy Director for Kidney Care UK, who attended the reading today, added: “We’re delighted that Parliament has continued to show its support for the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill, reflecting strong public support for it. As we get closer to the Bill becoming law this brings hope for kidney patients in England. The new law has the potential to save many lives and is a positive step towards reducing the number of people who die every day waiting for a transplant.”
You can see the latest progress of the bill on the Parliament website.