The Act changed the law regarding organ donation so that unless someone expressly opted out, they would be deemed as having given consent.

In June 2017, the Scottish Government announced its intentions to bring forward legislation for an opt-out system for organ donation.

[2] In February 2019, the Scottish Parliament debated presumed consent for organ donation.

[6] The Act has been criticised for potentially reducing the rate of donation by giving to much weight to qualifying relationships.

[7] During September 2021, a young father revealed he was able to be present for the birth of his child, because of a heart had been donated on the basis of deemed authorisation.