Together with other measures to improve donor coordination services this could result in a 10% increase in the consent rate for donation (currently at 60%).
[4] At the time of launch of the First taskforce report, the UK Prime Minister called for a review of the legislation over consent for organ donation.
[5] The ODTF carried out an investigation and published its second report "The potential impact of an opt out system for organ donation in the UK" on 17 November 2008 [6] This report provided an in-depth examination of the potential impact of changing to an opt out system of consent for organ donation.
The Taskforce concluded that there was no convincing evidence that a change to opt out consent would deliver significant increases in the number of donated organs.
In putting together the report, the Taskforce had discussions and engagement with academics, health professionals, members of the public, organ recipients, families of donors and faith leaders.
The report details the considerable volume of evidence the ODTF considered before coming to its conclusions.
Where such a decision is not in force, then consent is required from either a nominated representative, or, a person in a qualifying relationship (such as next of kin).