This review was carried out with the aim of updating an existing systematic review conducted by the University of York in 2008. It examined the impact of ‘opt-out’ legislation on organ donation rates. This paper presents three main strands of evidence: International evidence suggests that an association exists between presumed consent legislation and increased organ donation rates; Recent surveys indicate that there is significant support for the introduction of an opt-out system for organ donation in Wales; Experimental literature provides evidence for a mechanism through which presumed consent might increase organ donation, through the influence of the default position.
This report provides a general overview of extant research involving the families of potential organ donors. Research highlights a number of potentially modifiable factors which are associated with family consent rates. Many of these relate to the approach made by medical staff to the family, such as the timing and experience of professional(s) making the donation request.
Human enhancement and the future of work summarises technological advancements that could dramatically change how people work over the next decade. These technologies, such as cognitive enhancing drugs, bionic limbs and retinal implants, affect various human capacities such as memory, hearing and mobility. The report explores how, although human enhancement technologies might aid society, their use could raise serious ethical, philosophical, regulatory and economic issues that will need further consideration.
“The current legal status of assisted dying is inadequate and incoherent...” The Commission on Assisted Dying was set up in September 2010 to consider whether the current legal and policy approach to assisted dying in England and Wales is fit for purpose. In addition to evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the legal status quo, the Commission also set out to explore the question of what a framework for assisted dying might look like, if such a system were to be implemented in the UK, and what approach to assisted dying might be most acceptable to health and social care professionals and to the general public.
In June 2010 we announced that we would be working together to prepare a Private Member’s Bill to allow for voluntary assisted dying for terminally ill Tasmanians. We did so at that time because we believed that there was a compelling case for law reform in this area. As we demonstrate through this Consultation Paper, the case for legalising a form of voluntary assisted dying has continued to strengthen since our announcement to develop a new Bill, and we have good reason to believe that the case in support of law reform will only continue to grow. As legislators we believe that the law in this area has not kept up with changes in medical practice, social values or the views of the vast majority of the community. It is time for change. We believe it is important and necessary for the Parliament to enact legislation that fully demonstrates the compassion we all feel for people who are suffering in extremely difficult circumstances at the end of their lives. We know of too many terrib...
This report documents changes since the ODT 2008 report. It records significant improvements that have been made to infrastructure and projected 34% increase in donation rates over 4 yrs to April 2012. The report notes, however, that even if Taskforce’s target of a 50% increase in donation rates by 2013 is achieved, people will still be dying unnecessarily while waiting for an organ. We believe that we now need to decide whether we should be satisfied that we have done all we can or whether we should seek to build on what has already been achieved by shifting our attention to additional ways of increasing number of organ donors. The report examines a range of options that have been suggested for increasing the number of donors including a system of mandated choice, reciprocity, a regulated market or paying the funeral expenses of those who sign up to the ODR and subsequently donate organs. The report also explains why we remain convinced that an opt-out system with safeguards is best.
New report finds half of dying Britons are not dying well At a pivotal time for end of life care in Britain the need for advance care planning is reinforced Divided in Dying, a new report from charity Compassion in Dying, finds that almost half of those who have lost someone close to them through a short or long illness, feel their loved one died badly (45%). In cases where the dying person had recorded their end of life wishes, relatives and friends are more likely to report that they had a good death (58%). Alongside recording end of life wishes (19%), better communication between the doctor and their loved one (39%), co-ordination of care (33%) and being able to die in a place of their choice (31%) were also identified as key aspects which could have improved the situation for the person who died in a bad way. Compassion in Dying surveyed over 2400 British adults who were asked to recall the experience of the last relative or close friend who died.
Lord Falconer's Assisted Dying Bill [HL Bill 24] is the fourth of its kind to come before the House of Lords in the last ten years. None of its predecessors has made progress and the last one (Lord Joffe's Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill) was rejected in May 2006. This latest bill is little different from Lord Joffe's - it seeks to license doctors to supply lethal drugs to terminally ill patients to enable them to end their lives. The bill contains no safeguards, beyond stating eligibility criteria, to govern the assessment of requests for assisted suicide. It relegates important questions such as how mental capacity and clear and settled intent are to be established to codes of practice to be drawn up after an assisted suicide law has been approved by Parliament. This is wholly inadequate for a bill, such as this, with life-or-death consequences. Parliament cannot responsibly be asked to approve such a radical piece of legislation without seeing the nature of the safegua...
Penser solidairement la fin de vie RAPPORT A FRANCOIS HOLLANDE PRESIDENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE COMMISSION DE REFLEXION SUR LA FIN DE VIE EN FRANCE 18 décembre 2012