Jersey politician wants island organ donor register
- 27 July 2013
- From the section Jersey
An organ donor register could be set up in Jersey if plans by an island politician are approved.
Deputy Roy Le Herissier wants the States of Jersey to review the island's policy on organ donation.
The deputy also wants the health service to review its policies and recommend ways to increase the number of potential donors.
Earlier this month Wales agreed to introduce a system of presumed consent for organ donation.
Currently about one in 10 islanders are on the UK's National Organ Donation Register but Deputy Le Herissier said more could be done to recruit donors.
He said it was a sensitive subject but he believed the public mood was very much in favour of expanding donations.
The St Saviour deputy said the government must not hide behind the argument that Jersey simply follows the system in England.
Neil MacLachlan, a consultant at Jersey's general hospital, said people were dying because not enough of the island's 98,000 residents were signed up to the organ donor register.
He said every year there were about 20 patients waiting for a transplant.
Deputy Le Herissier said having a dedicated Jersey register should help to increase the number of donors.
He added there was a risk in being part of the wider UK register that the island would be constrained by its priorities.
Politicians will debate the proposition on 10 September. If approved the Health Department will set up a dedicated Jersey organ donor register.