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| Doctors split on organ donation | Doctors split on organ donation |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Intensive care doctors have told the BBC they are deeply concerned about any radical change to the law on organ donation. | Intensive care doctors have told the BBC they are deeply concerned about any radical change to the law on organ donation. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for a change to an opt out system called presumed consent. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for a change to an opt out system called presumed consent. |
| A UK-wide government taskforce is due to report in the next few months. | A UK-wide government taskforce is due to report in the next few months. |
| A poll of adults across the UK for the BBC shows two thirds of the public now support the idea - but intensive care doctors are more divided. | A poll of adults across the UK for the BBC shows two thirds of the public now support the idea - but intensive care doctors are more divided. |
| The Intensive Care Society says its research suggests many specialists are worried such a move could damage the trust between patients, their families and doctors. | The Intensive Care Society says its research suggests many specialists are worried such a move could damage the trust between patients, their families and doctors. |
| It is very important in this situation that we have their trust, that we are doing is going to be in the best interests of that patient Kevin GunningIntensive Care Society | It is very important in this situation that we have their trust, that we are doing is going to be in the best interests of that patient Kevin GunningIntensive Care Society |
| Kevin Gunning, a consultant at Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge, has carried out a survey of specialists for the society. | Kevin Gunning, a consultant at Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge, has carried out a survey of specialists for the society. |
| The 125 responses from doctors around the UK shows opinion divided almost down the middle. | The 125 responses from doctors around the UK shows opinion divided almost down the middle. |
| Instilling doubt | Instilling doubt |
| Some doctors are concerned presumed consent might instil doubts in patients and relatives about a potential conflict of interest. | Some doctors are concerned presumed consent might instil doubts in patients and relatives about a potential conflict of interest. |
| Mr Gunning said: "In intensive care patients are often admitted suddenly and the families have to comes to terms very quickly with the fact that someone may not survive. | Mr Gunning said: "In intensive care patients are often admitted suddenly and the families have to comes to terms very quickly with the fact that someone may not survive. |
| "It is very important in this situation that we have their trust, that we are doing is going to be in the best interests of that patient." | "It is very important in this situation that we have their trust, that we are doing is going to be in the best interests of that patient." |
| While he strongly supports the principle of organ donation, he believes any consideration of presumed consent is premature. | While he strongly supports the principle of organ donation, he believes any consideration of presumed consent is premature. |
| "The trouble is we live in a society where people are very much worried about the interference of the state. | "The trouble is we live in a society where people are very much worried about the interference of the state. |
| "I think you would find that families would view this as taking the organs - and that would create a tension." | "I think you would find that families would view this as taking the organs - and that would create a tension." |
| Around 30% of patients admitted to intensive care die before leaving hospital. | Around 30% of patients admitted to intensive care die before leaving hospital. |
| Their deaths have the potential to benefit patients on the transplant waiting list. | Their deaths have the potential to benefit patients on the transplant waiting list. |
| Long waiting lists | Long waiting lists |
| The UK has a low rate of organ donation compared to some European countries. | The UK has a low rate of organ donation compared to some European countries. |
| There are just over 7,000 people currently on the active waiting list, and that number is growing by around 8% each year. | There are just over 7,000 people currently on the active waiting list, and that number is growing by around 8% each year. |
| Every year almost 1,000 people die either while on the list, or having become so ill they are no longer able to withstand transplant surgery. | Every year almost 1,000 people die either while on the list, or having become so ill they are no longer able to withstand transplant surgery. |
| Rod Lenette is one of the many whose lives are on hold while they wait. | Rod Lenette is one of the many whose lives are on hold while they wait. |
| Now 41, has spent more than four years on dialysis, making an hour long trip each way to the unit at Addenbrookes. | Now 41, has spent more than four years on dialysis, making an hour long trip each way to the unit at Addenbrookes. |
| "The problem is when you are on this machine you can't see beyond it," he said. | "The problem is when you are on this machine you can't see beyond it," he said. |
| "I would be a proper dad to my children - I'd be a proper husband to my wife. | "I would be a proper dad to my children - I'd be a proper husband to my wife. |
| "I used to be the cornerstone of my family I kept everyone together and I haven't been able to do that." | "I used to be the cornerstone of my family I kept everyone together and I haven't been able to do that." |
| The British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing have both backed the idea of presumed consent. | The British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing have both backed the idea of presumed consent. |
| And an ICM poll for the BBC of adults across the UK reveals 66% now support presumed consent. | And an ICM poll for the BBC of adults across the UK reveals 66% now support presumed consent. |
| In January the government appointed taskforce proposed an overhaul of the organ donation system in the UK which all the health departments are committed to implementing. | In January the government appointed taskforce proposed an overhaul of the organ donation system in the UK which all the health departments are committed to implementing. |
| Many believe those changes should be given a chance to make a difference before any change to the law is considered. | Many believe those changes should be given a chance to make a difference before any change to the law is considered. |
| Donor family | Donor family |
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| Elizabeth and Barry Jenkins on their son's organ donation | |
| Opinion is even divided among donor families, reflecting the often intensely personal nature of views around organ donation for transplant. | Opinion is even divided among donor families, reflecting the often intensely personal nature of views around organ donation for transplant. |
| Barry and Elizabeth Jenkins have lived through making an organ donation decision. | Barry and Elizabeth Jenkins have lived through making an organ donation decision. |
| Their son Richard was at home when pins and needles took him to the family doctor for a check up. | Their son Richard was at home when pins and needles took him to the family doctor for a check up. |
| Just 17 days later Richard was dead at the age of 24 from a rare brain tumour and his parents agreed to donate his kidneys and corneas. | Just 17 days later Richard was dead at the age of 24 from a rare brain tumour and his parents agreed to donate his kidneys and corneas. |
| They waited for him to die in a room next to the operating theatre to allow organ retrieval. | They waited for him to die in a room next to the operating theatre to allow organ retrieval. |
| Both Barry and Elizabeth are passionately in favour of organ donation but just as strongly opposed to presumed consent. | Both Barry and Elizabeth are passionately in favour of organ donation but just as strongly opposed to presumed consent. |
| Mr Jenkins said presumed consent would damage the delicate relationship between the donor, the donor's family and the doctor. | Mr Jenkins said presumed consent would damage the delicate relationship between the donor, the donor's family and the doctor. |
| He admitted he had doubts about the issue before agreeing to it in his son's case, adding: "With presumed consent they would be greater." | He admitted he had doubts about the issue before agreeing to it in his son's case, adding: "With presumed consent they would be greater." |
| Mrs Jenkins said: "It's not just whoever's put their name down on the register, it's a discussion with the family who are going to be left afterwards." | |
| The taskforce has run focus groups to explore some of the complex issues around presumed consent before writing its report. | The taskforce has run focus groups to explore some of the complex issues around presumed consent before writing its report. |
| They may well have revealed some of the wide range of views this debate can provoke. | They may well have revealed some of the wide range of views this debate can provoke. |
| Without a strong consensus they may find it difficult to conclude that changing the law is the most urgent priority in improving the rate of organ donation in the UK. | Without a strong consensus they may find it difficult to conclude that changing the law is the most urgent priority in improving the rate of organ donation in the UK. |