When families or friends know about their loved ones` decision, it can make the situation less stressful and give them the confidence to fulfill your wish to be an organ donor or not. This is an increase of 13 from the previous year, but less than the 274 transplants performed in 2019. The number of people becoming organ donors in Ireland varies. A 2015 survey found that more than 80% of Irish people agree with organ donation. [when?] [2] «I would also like to thank the many individuals, families, teachers, patient support groups and charities in Northern Ireland who have worked tirelessly over many years to promote organ donation. There are too many to list, but Dáithí, Máirtín and Seph Mac Gabhann deserve special credit for their determination not only to push for a change in the law, but also to raise public awareness about organ donation. It is appropriate that the amendment to the Organ Donation Act be called the «Dáithí Act». «It`s fantastic to see growing public support for organ donation in Northern Ireland and we hope it will help save more lives.» Denis McNeill, who lives near Coleraine, has been on the waiting list for a kidney transplant since he developed problems in 2020. The Dáithí law means that in the event that organ donation is possible after your death, you will be deemed to accept to be an organ donor, unless you have registered a decision not to donate or to belong to an excluded group.

«It was never something we talked about, we had to decide if it was and then we had to decide what organs it would donate.» «I am pleased that the soft opt-out law was adopted today. This is an extremely important step forward for anyone waiting for a transplant. He said his life was saved and he would «always remember the family» who donated for his first kidney transplant. His sister Ciara Hunter said the change in the law would make the decision-making process about organ donation «easier» for families «because you would assume there is consent» unless the person chose not to. In 2021, a total of 203 organs were transplanted, 137 kidneys, 34 livers, 20 lungs, 10 hearts and two pancreas. There were 64 deceased donors and 35 living donors. Dr McDaid said there were around 120 kidney transplants in Northern Ireland each year, with around 50 from deceased donors and around 70 from living donors. More than 600 people are waiting for an organ transplant in Ireland. These include dialysis patients waiting for a kidney transplant and patients waiting for a lung, heart and liver transplant. In addition, they help guide organ donors and ensure that every family has the opportunity to consider organ donation and is supported in this decision. Organ donation and transplant surgery are well established in Ireland.

There are three specialist transplant centres in Ireland. The National Kidney Transplant Service is located at Beaumont University Hospital, where live and deceased kidney transplants take place. Pediatric kidney transplants are performed at Temple Street Children`s University Hospital. There are specialized organ donor staff in hospital groups nationwide to assist with organ donation. These include six nurse organ donation managers and six clinical directors of organ donation. They provide support, advice, training and education to health workers for emergencies, theatre and especially intensive care units at each hospital at the national level. A person is considered to have consented to organ donation, unless he or she has chosen not to do so. The final consent of the person`s family is required before a donation is made, and it would remain so.* The Human Tissue Bill, which has been in preparation since 2016 and has been repeatedly postponed, provides for an opt-out clause rather than an opt-in clause for organ donation after death. The most common type is kidney donation, when a kidney is removed from a healthy person and transplanted into someone else, often a relative. When you register with the NHS Donor Registry, you can choose which organs you want to donate. A public information campaign helps raise public awareness of the change in the law and highlights the importance of sharing decisions on organ donation. In the worst case, the organ donation interview is much easier for families if they already know what their loved one would have wanted.

Only half of families accept organ donation if they don`t know their loved one`s decision, but that figure rises to 9 out of 10 if the family has had a conversation. Health Secretary Simon Harris said «the proposed withdrawal scheme would encourage people to discuss their intentions regarding organ donation with their close relatives». [6] It is important that everyone makes a decision about organ donation – whether it is a donation or not – records this decision in the organ donor registry and communicates this decision to family and friends. ADOPTED!!! I`m happy to stand shoulder to shoulder for @RobinSwannMoH as he just passed the #OrganDonation opt-out law here in Stormont! A proud day and a new era for transplantation and organ donation in Northern Ireland! Tributes to all those who worked to make this day possible ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Vz8HHeSqoG The Organ and Tissue Donation (Presumed Consent) Act 2022 (Northern Ireland), known as the «Dáithí Law», received royal approval in March 2022. Named after Dáithí Mac Gabhann, a 5-year-old organ donation activist who has been waiting for a new heart donation for almost 4 years, the new law will change the organ donation system in Northern Ireland to an opt-out system. This means that in the event that organ donation is possible after your death, it is presumed that all adults agree to be organ donors unless they choose to withdraw or belong to an excluded group*. The best way to opt out is to register a decision not to donate in the NHS organ donor register Advances in transplant medicine mean that more patients can now be saved or their quality of life improved through organ donation. Dr Motherway said organ transplant teams have survived the pandemic despite the difficulties involved. BBC News NI spoke to people who have first-hand experience of organ donation in Northern Ireland.