§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any studies have been undertaken by his Department to establish the practicability of requiring general practitioners to seek approval for the donations of organs to be obtained from relatives prior to the death of the donor.
§ Mr. WhitneyNo. Donated organs normally come from patients in hospital intensive care units. Even if the general practitioner and the relatives knew each other, it is most unlikely that they will be in contact at the relevant time.
A law was enacted in the state of New York in March 1985 requiring hospital administrators to ensure that the relatives of all suitable organ donors are asked for their consent that the organs be removed. I will be visiting New York later this month to learn about the practical effects of the law's implementation.