NEW organ donation laws come into effect today.

Under the new law, all adults in England are considered as having agreed to donate their own organs when they die unless they record a decision not to donate (known as ‘opting out’) or are in one of the excluded groups.

Those excluded will be people under 18, those who lack the mental capacity to understand the new arrangements and take the necessary action; people who have lived in England for less than 12 months; those who are not living here voluntarily and those who have nominated someone else to make the decision on their behalf.

In cases where the individual has not expressed a decision, specialist nurses will support families to make one based on what their loved ones would have wanted. If the decision is not to donate, this will be honoured and upheld.

The new legislation is called Max and Keira’s Law – the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act,

“We are very pleased that Max and Keira’s Law has passed its final round of parliamentary approval and we welcome the new legislation," said Anthony Clarkson, director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

“It is important that people know they will still have a choice whether or not to donate. Families will still be consulted and people’s faith, beliefs and culture will continue to be respected.

“We hope this law change will prompt all of us to consider whether or not we would want to donate our organs and encourage us all to register and share our decision with our family and friends.

“We want people to know that there is no deadline to making your donation decision, you can register your choice at any time.

“Very few people die in the circumstances where organ donation is possible and currently, even fewer donations and transplants are taking place.

“While transplants continue to happen, organ donation will not go ahead, if a potential donor in known to have, or suspected of having, COVID-19. We continue to work closely with transplant centres who are considering re-opening their programmes in a phased return to normal."