As of today, any person over 18 who dies in Ireland is assumed to be an organ donor, unless they have opted out.
The new system offers an opt-out option for organ donation for individuals aged 18.
If you want to be an organ donor, you do not need to take any action.
If you do not want to be an organ donor, you can apply to the Relevant Organ Donation Opt-Out Register maintained by the HSE. As of this morning, the website has not yet been updated to provide this option: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/organ-donation/
The changes come as part of The Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024.
This change only applies to organs referred to as relevant organs under the legislation. There are five relevant organs: liver, lung, pancreas, heart or kidney. For all other organs, tissues, or cells, consent will be sought from your family member – as was previously the case.
If you are on the opt-out Register, your family will not be asked about organ donation.
At any given time, approximately 600 people in Ireland are on waiting lists for organ transplants.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has written to the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (pictured) expressing concern that Ireland’s new system for organ donation is not fully understood by the public.
It is essential, ICCL said, that the public is informed about who to contact with questions and that their queries are answered promptly, while the organisation also called for a review of the new system within a defined timeframe to ensure it is fully understood.
