This year’s Organ Donation Week took place between 2 and 8 September.

During the week, individuals were encouraged to take the time to consider organ and tissue donation and to make sure their family is aware of their decision.

Currently, at least one person on average dies every day in need of an organ transplant, often because families haven’t discussed the subject and don’t know whether to authorise donation on behalf of their relative or not when their relative dies.

Legislation to introduce an opt-out system of organ and tissue donation for transplantation was granted Royal Assent on 19 July, giving formal confirmation that it will become law.

The law will change to introduce a new system of ‘deemed authorisation’ for organ and tissue donation for transplantation purposes, commonly referred to as an ‘opt out’ system. This means that if you have not confirmed whether you want to be a donor, for example, by recording a decision on the NHS organ donor register, it will be assumed that you are willing to donate your organs/tissue when you die and your authorisation for donation may be deemed to have been given.

The law won’t change for some time. There will be at least 12 months before the new system is introduced to ensure that people have information about the new system and what their choices are.

For more information, visit: www.organdonationscotland.org