D\u00e1ith\u00ed’s Law will mean adults in Northern Ireland automatically become potential organ donors after their death unless they explicitly say they wish not to be. It is being implemented to increase organ donation rates in the region.<\/p>\n
The new legislation is named after D\u00e1ith\u00ed Mac Gabhann from Belfast. D\u00e1ith\u00ed was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, meaning the left side of his heart did not form correctly. The six-year-old has been on the list to get a heart transplant for about five years, with his family campaigning for a change in organ donation laws since 2018.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where an opt-out organ donation system is not in place.<\/p>\n
However, a change in Northern Ireland organ donation laws, enforcing a new opt-out organ donation system is due to progress this week, after a last-minute intervention by the UK government.<\/p>\n
The opt-out organ donation system was passed by MLAs last year, but the secondary legislation required to implement it cannot currently be approved in the Assembly due to the current political stalemate.<\/p>\n
In a recent development, the UK Government has decided to instead take D\u00e1ith\u00ed’s Law through Westminster to ensure the new opt-out system is implemented.<\/p>\n