Organ donation opt-out system bill to go before Oireachtas ‘early next year’

Organ donation in this country is set to change to an opt-out regime per legislation to be brought before the Oireachtas early next year, said Health Minister Simon Harris.

The minister said it is his intention to bring the Human Tissue Bill to Cabinet before the end of March 2020. Under the terms of the bill, which has been in the legislative works since 2016, a ‘soft’ opt-out system will become law, meaning that unless a person specifically states their unwillingness to donate their organs it will be assumed that they are a willing donor.