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One in 10 people may opt-out of proposed organ donor system

A new study has revealed that around one in 10 people would consider opting out of the proposed new opt-out organ donation system.

The research, from the University of Stirling, found that those planning to opt-out of the new approach, already in place in Wales and earmarked for Scotland and England, reported stronger emotional barriers towards organ donation, including discomfort at thinking about one's own death and feelings of disgust about organ donation.

The study authors say that before the introduction of opt-out consent laws, evaluation of strategies to increase donor intent is required. They say the study findings suggest campaigns targeting feelings and emotions may be more effective than interventions that present facts.

The research asked 1202 UK residents whether they would choose opt‐in, deemed consent or opt‐out/not sure under the proposed legislation. Participants also completed measures of donor intentions at baseline, following a 12‐item emotional barriers questionnaire and again, following a 9‐item myth‐busting intervention.

Just over 66.1% of participants selected to opt‐in to the donor register, 24.3% selected deemed consent, and 9.4% selected opt‐out/not sure. Emotional barriers, notably fears surrounding bodily integrity after death, were significantly elevated in participants who selected opt‐out/not sure.

Exposure to the emotional barriers’ questionnaire decreased donor intentions in the opt‐out/not sure group. Dispelling organ donation myths did not increase intention within the opt‐out/not sure group, leading the authors to conclude that countering organ donation myths with facts may not be the best method of overcoming emotional barriers and increasing donor intentions for those planning to opt‐out.


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