Province passes motion to look into presumed consent for organ donation

Liberal MLA Gord McNeilly recently introduced a motion aimed at increasing organ and tissue donation through a presumed consent model.

The motion passed unanimously in the P.E.I. legislature, though such motions are not binding on the government.

The motion calls on the province to look into implementing a presumed consent system. Under this model, individuals are assumed to have given consent to donate their organs and tissues unless they actively opt out.

P.E.I. currently uses an opt-in system, meaning individuals must sign up to become organ and tissue donors.

"The whole premise around it is to have those conversations around organic tissue donation and to talk about it with your family," said McNeilly.

This potential change would have an impact on the health-care system, he said. There would be a need for nurse coordinators, more doctor training and maintaining full ICU capacity.

"If we don't have ICU capacity in the PCH, you can't even begin to think about this," McNeilly said.

The complexity, he said, would mean P.E.I. likely wouldn't be able to reach a full presumed consent model.

"We will never be able to do that kind of transplant surgeries here, but we can say to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, which is moving in that direction, that we will do as much as we can to promote organ and tissue donation in Prince Edward Island," said McNeilly.

Nova Scotia uses the model, and New Brunswick approved it two years ago, although it hasn't taken effect yet.

In 2019, McNeilly introduced a similar motion asking for a standing committee to review the presumed consent model. He's optimistic this new motion will help push things forward, McNeilly said.

"I'm hoping, but our health-care system and our doctor numbers need to come, and there's quite a bit of resources that would have to be put into something like this," he said. "And given our size, we need to start by promoting it first amongst Islanders."

The motion also asks to ensure that there is a clear and accessible opt-out option.

It also recommends the provincial government run a year-round public education and awareness campaign about organ and tissue donation and the potential benefits of this opt-out model.