Statement on media coverage about organ donation and women carrying babies diagnosed with non-survivable conditions
In response to a number of media articles implying that women carrying babies with a non-survivable condition will be pressurised into proceeding with their pregnancy in order to donate their babies organs, the British Transplantation Society has issued the following statement
At the first meeting of the BTS executive following on from a very successful Congress in Bournemouth in March 2015, it was decided that a review of the strategy of the Society was timely.
This provides an excellent platform on which to develop transplantation services in the UK over the next few years. Professor Anthony Warrens, President of the BTS, commented: ‘This programme of work is well focussed and ambitious but realistic. It has the potential to have real impact and build on the excellent work NHSBT led to bring the recommendations of the Organ Donation Taskforce 2008 to the successful achievement of an increase in donation of 50% in five years.
The BTS is committed to support NHSBT in their pursuit of this plan for the benefit of our patients, three of whom die needlessly in the UK every day for want of an adequate supply of organs’.
Living donor transplantation (LDT) is now established practice in the UK and represents 38% of overall solid organ transplant activity.
The safety and welfare of living donors is paramount. Living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) accounts for 97% of LDT activity and is justified on the basis of excellent patient and transplant outcomes, low donor risk and donor and recipient choice2 . Living liver donation (LLDT) comprises the remaining 3%.
New Guidelines for living organ donation from prisoners are now open for consultation until 28th February 2014.
Any comments to Lisa Burnapp at lisa.burnapp@nhsbt.nhs.uk
