Consent for Organ Donation Option Option A A1. Hard opt‐out system without exemption Description Doctors can remove organs from every adult who dies –
unless a person has registered to opt out. This applies even if relatives know that the deceased would object to Opt‐out donation but had failed to register during life. Example: Austria. Sometimes called presumed consent A2. Hard opt‐out system Doctors can remove organs from every adult who dies –
unless a person has registered to opt out OR the person The person is with provision for belongs to a group that is defined in law as being against an presumed to have exemptions opt‐out system. consented to donate Example: Singapore where Muslims chose to opt out as a his/her organs unless group. he/she has specified otherwise. A3. Soft opt‐out Doctors can remove organs from every adult who dies –
unless a person has registered to opt out OR the person’s without family relatives tell doctors not to take organs. It is up to the consultation relatives to tell the doctors because the doctors may not ask them. Example: Belgium. A4. Soft opt‐out Doctors can remove organs from every adult who dies –
unless a person has registered to opt out. It is good practice with family consultation for doctors to ask the relatives for their agreement at the time of death Example: Spain. Option B B1. Soft opt‐in system Doctors can remove organs from adults who have opted in. It is up to each person to decide if they want to opt in. It is with family veto normal practice to let relatives know if the person has Opt‐in opted in and doctors will not proceed if faced with opposition from relatives. Sometimes called Example: Ireland explicit consent B2. Soft opt‐in system Doctors can remove organs from adults who have opted in. It is up to each person to decide if they want to opt in. It is The person can with family consultation normal practice to let relatives know if the person has decide in advance to opted in and doctors can decide not to proceed if faced consent, or to with opposition from relatives, although they have the legal nominate someone to entitlement to proceed according to the individual’s wishes. make the decision on Example: UK his/her behalf after B3. Hard opt‐in system Doctors can remove organs from adults who have opted in. death. Where the It is up to each person to decide if they want to opt in. deceased has not Relatives are not able to oppose the person’s wishes. without family made a decision his or consultation her family may do so. Option C C1. Soft mandated People are asked to register their choice to opt in or opt out choice system at specified points and CAN choose whether to do so or not. Mandated C2. Hard mandated People are asked to register their choice to opt in or opt out choice /required choice system at specified points and MUST choose one option. consent C3. Required Request A system of required request would require that a person’s A system of wishes MUST be determined before death. Potential donors mandated choice are identified in hospital Accident and Emergency would require people Departments and Intensive Care Units and the individual or to exercise a choice his / her family must be approached and their wishes in whether or not to relation to organ donation determined. donate.