Cabinet approval for legislation which will see everyone regarded as organ donors was secured this week. The proposal means that each person in the Republic of Ireland will be regarded as an organ donor – unless they actively ‘opt out’ of the system.
The Human Tissue Bill aims to normalise organ donation when people die in circumstances where donation is possible. It paves the way for a statutory framework for organ donation and transplant services in the Republic of Ireland for the first time ever. It has been met with streams of positive media coverage, and the mainstream view seems to be largely in favour of what is – essentially – forced organ donation. But is it right to put pressure on people to donate their organs? Why should we be forced to sign our bodies over to the Government?
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