§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent visit by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr. Whitney) to the United States of America to discuss the possible lessons for the United Kingdom of the operation in certain states of an opting-out kidney donation scheme.
§ Mr. WhitneyI am not aware that an opting-out kidney donation scheme has been introduced in any American state. On my recent visit to the United States, I discussed with health officials in New York the effects of the "required request" system of organ donation which has been introduced by law in certain states. This system requires hospital administrators to ensure that the relatives of all suitable organ donors are asked for their consent that the organs be removed. I was informed that in the short time in which "required request" has been in operation no major difficulties in such a system have emerged and organ donation rates have increased.
We are examining with representative bodies of the medical profession the possibility of introducing a voluntary code of practice in this country to achieve the same effect.