Two thirds favour organ donation, but only one in 20 take steps to facilitate it

doi:10.1136/bmj.39335.479583.DB

BMJ 2007;335:533 (15 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.39335.479583.DB

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Two thirds favour organ donation, but only one in 20 take steps to facilitate it

Clare Dyer, legal correspondent

BMJ

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

People in the United Kingdom have a positive attitude to useof human tissue and organs for medical research, education,or transplantation, with 68% saying they are certain or likelyto donate their body, organs, or tissue, concludes an independentstudy carried out for the Human Tissue Authority. However, only5% of people had already taken the necessary steps to do so.

The research, carried out by Ipsos MORI, found that consentwas a key factor in whether people would allow their tissueor organs to be used. Interviewees were given a choice of threeoptions about consent and asked which most closely representedtheir views. It was possible to choose more than one option.

The highest percentage (46%) said they would be happy for theirtissue or organs to be used for any purpose with their priorconsent. Some 33% thought it acceptable for their family membersto give . . . [Full text of this article]

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