Organ donors could be given priority for transplants under new rules

The UK public is being asked whether organ donors should be given priority to receive organs if they ever need them, in forthcoming changes to the rules on organ transplantation.

NHS Blood and Transplant is surveying medical and scientific as well as public opinion on what changes they find acceptable and think would make the most difference to boosting the number of organs available for transplantation and the success of transplant procedures.

The survey will inform the changes to the organ donor and transplantation strategy being made from 2013. The changes are expected to be the largest ever shake-up of the ethical, legal, and professional rules governing transplantation in the United Kingdom.

The most contentious proposal would be to …