Organ donated 'nudge' for drivers in new DVLA process

[lfc4life]

Drivers will have to state whether they want to be an organ donor when they apply for a new or replacement licence.

The move has been put forward by the government's "nudge unit", which has been set up to encourage changes in behaviour through gentle persuasion.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency already asks if applicants want to be donors - but from Monday an online form will require that the answer is stated.

Ministers hope it will help improve organ donation rates.

Less than a third of people are signed up to be organ donors - despite research suggesting that nine in 10 would he happy to be one.

Debate
The situation has prompted much debate in recent years about how best to improve rates.

Some have called for presumed consent, where it is assumed an individual wishes to be a donor unless he or she has opted out by registering their objection.

The government has so far rejected presumed consent and instead the Cabinet Office's behavioural insight team has suggested the driving licence idea as part of its "nudge" drive.

The DVLA's existing scheme is already responsible for about half of the 1m new donor registrations each year.

As well as becoming compulsory to answer the question, the section will be moved from the end to the start of the DVLA process, so when applicants from England, Wales and Scotland apply for new or replacement licences they will have to say whether they want to become an organ donor or not.

When a similar scheme was introduced in the US state of Illinois, donor registration jumped from 38% to 60%.

Public health minister Anne Milton said the move was aimed at encouraging people to discuss the issue more and make it easier for them to sign up.

"Being an organ donor is a truly selfless act and a life-saving gift to someone in need," she added.

[Rodbouy]

Should be compulsory unless otherwise instructed.

[nara]

Should be compulsory unless otherwise instructed.

Agreed. You should have to opt out rather than opt in.

[super jumbe]

Want be long our Govt will make a law the remains of the humans should not be wasted but given to the animals feed??????.

There are people who will agree to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Snowy79]

Not whilst there's perfectly good criminals to feed to the animals first.

[Grizz]

Nudge unit is a great idea, at least people have a choice to say yes or no, and if they do their job right it would wipe out any problems with waiting for donors.
presumed consent is little more than reducing people to meat status, whatever the good intentions, means do not always justify the ends

[Rodbouy]

No what it does do, is give people who need it a better chance of a life.

The amount of time wasted in relatives arguing over what should or shouldn't happen to the body parts wastes valuable time.

They can do what they want with me if I die and they can use it.

If people are that against it, then they can easily remove them self s from the list.

But how many people out there say, Aye they can have my parts but never actually bothered to register.

[johnboy1974]

People know enough about organ donation without having to say yes or no to it on a driving license form. I will always be of the opinion that we should opt in rather than opt out, but this goody two shoes government will ram it down our throats anyway.

[Rodbouy]

People know enough about organ donation without having to say yes or no to it on a driving license form. I will always be of the opinion that we should opt in rather than opt out, but this goody two shoes government will ram it down our throats anyway.

But they are not ramming it down our throats, they are just making us pick one or another.

Which is fair enough.

[TheCoder]

But they are not ramming it down our throats, they are just making us pick one or another.

Which is fair enough.

Not with your initial suggestion about making it compulsory it wouldn't !

Regardless of the perceived requirement for organs, nobody should ever be opted into such a scheme by default. Unless somebody opts in then it should always be assumed that they do NOT wish to participate.

If you want to get participants then you put the arguments across and hope to recruit by information and goodwill.

[Rodbouy]

Not with your initial suggestion about making it compulsory it wouldn't !

Regardless of the perceived requirement for organs, nobody should ever be opted into such a scheme by default. Unless somebody opts in then it should always be assumed that they do NOT wish to participate.

If you want to get participants then you put the arguments across and hope to recruit by information and goodwill.

Thats the thing that was MY SUGGESTION not the GOVT. So my point stands.

The Govt are just forcing people to pick on or the other.

I on the other hand believe more people would have a better chance in organ donation if it was the other way about.

Why would someone care if they are dead what happens to their organs, for as long as it goes to some one in need?

What if a young kid gets a chance at a new liver? or a new heart ?

I hope that one day the same people are not relying on a chance donation that never comes.

But maybe its such events that makes people change their mind.

[TheCoder]

...But maybe its such events that makes people change their mind.

..and thats the whole point, it should only ever be done through education. Simply declaring that a persons body belongs to the state on their death is definately not the way things should be done in any society which purports to have free choice !

If the govt were serious about such things then they should be willing to spend some money on it and educate people rather than just force you to make a decision with something thats totally unconnected to the subject.

[Rodbouy]

..and thats the whole point, it should only ever be done through education. Simply declaring that a persons body belongs to the state on their death is definately not the way things should be done in any society which purports to have free choice !

If the govt were serious about such things then they should be willing to spend some money on it and educate people rather than just force you to make a decision with something thats totally unconnected to the subject.

Education ? What is there to educate? Your body parts are no longer of use to you. They will save some ones life.

Lesson over.

What it would do is eradicate the failing of human mindset to say "I will do the tomorrow" Or "Oh I, I meant to do that"

Why spend money on that?

Anyhow the line that they took is a fair route and should suit all parties

If it saves a life or extends a life then it would be all the while worth it.

[waken]

What if the NHS takes your organs and then privately treats rich overseas patients and deprives those who cannot afford it. Makes up the NHS deficit.
Wouldn't put it past this government

[Canker_Canison]

The option already exists on the driving license.

Anyone with the photo licence, look at your driving entitlements. At the bottom of the list where you have the codes listed.....


Mine has..

107 - Not more than 8250kg
101 - Not for hire or reward
119 - Weight limit does not apply

115 - Organ donor

So I ticked the box on the application nearly 10 years ago that said 'I want to help someone after my death'

I also carry a very old donor card that I filled in back in 1996. Not that I think they'd want any of my organs now, they're all buggered