Organ donation is a ‘Christian duty’: CofE response to NHS consultation
Church of England
A Church of England response to a national consultation says people should make it their "Christian duty" to register as an organ donor - and suggests that they should take the time to tell their loved ones of their wishes.
A response by the Mission and Public Affairs (MPA) Council of the Church of England to the National Health Service Blood and Transplant Consultation on Organ Donation Post 2013 Strategy says: "The Church of England affirms that 'giving one's self and one's possessions voluntarily for the well being of others and without compulsion is a Christian duty of which organ donation is a striking example.'" *
It is available here: The MPA Council response reports that whilst "there are 18.9m people on the Organ Donor Register", "there are 1,000 people dying each year while on the transplant list". It notes that in 2011/12 "37 per cent of eligible donors resulted in transplants" with "the wishes of relatives often over-riding individual consent". By recommending a 'hard opt-in' donation policy "where consent given on the Organ Donor Register is treated in the same way as an Advanced Decision or clause in a Will", it rejects other options, such as 'opt-out' and 'mandated choice'.
The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Revd James Newcome, said: "Christians have a mandate to heal, motivated by compassion, mercy, knowledge and ability - and this extends to organ donation. The Christian tradition both affirms the God-given value of human bodily life, and the principle of putting the needs of others before one's own needs."
Read more
{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
A Church of England response to a national consultation says people should make it their "Christian duty" to register as an organ donor - and suggests that they should take the time to tell their loved ones of their wishes.
A response by the Mission and Public Affairs (MPA) Council of the Church of England to the National Health Service Blood and Transplant Consultation on Organ Donation Post 2013 Strategy says: "The Church of England affirms that 'giving one's self and one's possessions voluntarily for the well being of others and without compulsion is a Christian duty of which organ donation is a striking example.'" *
It is available here: The MPA Council response reports that whilst "there are 18.9m people on the Organ Donor Register", "there are 1,000 people dying each year while on the transplant list". It notes that in 2011/12 "37 per cent of eligible donors resulted in transplants" with "the wishes of relatives often over-riding individual consent". By recommending a 'hard opt-in' donation policy "where consent given on the Organ Donor Register is treated in the same way as an Advanced Decision or clause in a Will", it rejects other options, such as 'opt-out' and 'mandated choice'.
The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Revd James Newcome, said: "Christians have a mandate to heal, motivated by compassion, mercy, knowledge and ability - and this extends to organ donation. The Christian tradition both affirms the God-given value of human bodily life, and the principle of putting the needs of others before one's own needs."
Read more
{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
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