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PM accused of organ donor U-turn PM accused of organ donor U-turn
(about 8 hours later)
The Conservatives have called for Gordon Brown to explain his "apparent U-turn" on the organ donor system.The Conservatives have called for Gordon Brown to explain his "apparent U-turn" on the organ donor system.
The prime minister has said he backs a move to "presumed consent", in which everyone is a potential donor unless they opt out or their family objects.The prime minister has said he backs a move to "presumed consent", in which everyone is a potential donor unless they opt out or their family objects.
Mr Brown said such a change could help save thousands of lives.Mr Brown said such a change could help save thousands of lives.
But shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley urged him to explain a change from "the principle that consent for organ donation should not be presumed". But Tory frontbencher Andrew Lansley has written to him asking why he voted against it in 2004, and how it would differ in practice from current rules.
There are more than 8,000 people waiting for organ transplants in the UK - a figure which rises by about 8% a year.There are more than 8,000 people waiting for organ transplants in the UK - a figure which rises by about 8% a year.
'Clarify''Clarify'
The government has set up an organ donation task force to look at ways of overcoming shortages. It is due to report in the summer. The government has set up an organ donation task force to look at ways of overcoming shortages. It will set out 14 recommendations later to boost organ donation in the UK by 50% within five years.
In a letter to the prime minister, Mr Lansley urges him to "clarify what his policy on organ donation now is, including whether he intends to bring forward new legislation". Among them will be recruiting twice as many transplant co-ordinators and creating 24-hour organ retrieval teams, they hope to emulate Spain's successful model.
This is a very important subject. Public support for organ donation must be maximised Andrew LansleyConservativesThis is a very important subject. Public support for organ donation must be maximised Andrew LansleyConservatives
The letter adds: "In 2004 [leading up to the Human Tissue Act], Conservatives offered a free vote to our MPs on the issue. For your government it was a whipped vote. But they will not include "presumed consent" - as that is being examined by a separate sub-committee which has been looking specifically at the issue and will report back in the summer.
In a letter to the prime minister, shadow health secretary Mr Lansley urges him to "clarify what his policy on organ donation now is, including whether he intends to bring forward new legislation".
'Diametrically opposed'
It adds: "In 2004 [leading up to the Human Tissue Act], Conservatives offered a free vote to our MPs on the issue. For your government it was a whipped vote.
"It is all the more surprising that you now appear to take the diametrically opposed view.""It is all the more surprising that you now appear to take the diametrically opposed view."
Government advisers have recommended an overhaul of the UK donor system in a bid to double the number of organs available for transplant. Presumed consent is no consent at all Joyce RobinsPatient Concern
By recruiting twice as many transplant co-ordinators and creating 24-hour organ retrieval teams, they hope to emulate Spain's successful model. Mr Lansley urged him to explain a change from "the principle that consent for organ donation should not be presumed".
Concerns
But several patient groups are against a system of presumed consent, arguing that it is not up to the state to decide what becomes of people's bodies when they die.
Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern, told the BBC: "Presumed consent is no consent at all.
"We've worked for years to get a system of proper, informed consent in the health service in this country and Gordon Brown is willing to throw it all out of the window."
Mr Lansley's letter to Mr Brown says: "According to press reports, you continue to believe that organs should not be taken against the wishes of a deceased's family.Mr Lansley's letter to Mr Brown says: "According to press reports, you continue to believe that organs should not be taken against the wishes of a deceased's family.
"So, in what practical way is this different from the current situation? Why should we seek to breach the principle of consent in law while maintaining it in practice?""So, in what practical way is this different from the current situation? Why should we seek to breach the principle of consent in law while maintaining it in practice?"
The letter goes on: "This is a very important subject. Public support for organ donation must be maximised." 'Aching gap'
Several patient groups are against a system of presumed consent, arguing that it is not up to the state to decide what becomes of people's bodies when they die.
Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern, told the BBC: "Presumed consent is no consent at all.
Nobody would retrieve organs against a family's wishes Elisabeth BugginsOrgan Donation Taskforce
"We've worked for years to get a system of proper, informed consent in the health service in this country and Gordon Brown is willing to throw it all out of the window."
Mr Brown wrote in the Sunday Telegraph at the weekend that a presumed consent system "seems to have the potential to close the aching gap between the potential benefits of transplant surgery in the UK and the limits imposed by our current system of consent".Mr Brown wrote in the Sunday Telegraph at the weekend that a presumed consent system "seems to have the potential to close the aching gap between the potential benefits of transplant surgery in the UK and the limits imposed by our current system of consent".
The prime minister, who carries an organ donor card, said he hoped the measure could be introduced this year.The prime minister, who carries an organ donor card, said he hoped the measure could be introduced this year.
The taskforce's recommendations are due to be outlined later by Health Secretary Alan Johnson. They include having 24-hour dedicated organ retrieval teams, saying current teams vary in size and experience and their funding is "often obscure" and from various sources.
The taskforce's chairwoman, Elisabeth Buggins, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she expected those recommendations to be adopted, which she said could "dramatically improve" the donor situation - before they consider whether a system of presumed consent is necessary.
She added: "Whatever the system, whether it's presumed consent or our current system, families are always involved and nobody would retrieve organs against a family's wishes."