Community representatives have given advice on Jewish
religious law to the Member of the Scottish Parliament who
intends to introduce a Bill aimed at increasing the number
of organ-donors.
With the support of the Scottish Parliament's Health
Committee, Ochal MSP Dr. Richard Simpson wants legislation
enacted in favor of "presumed consent" for organ-
donation.
At present, consent for organ-removal is indicated by
carrying a donor card. Alternatively, families of the
deceased can agree that the person's organs can be used for
donation.
Dr. Simpson will propose that, in future, Scots can "opt
out" only by signing a central register stating that their
organs should not be used for transplantation.
If no wishes against organ-donation have been expressed by
the deceased, his or her relatives would be asked whether
they had any objection to transplantation.
The MSP is in the process of consulting representatives of
all religious faiths in Scotland before drafting his
Bill.
The wide consultation process was welcomed by Barry Jackson,
of the Glasgow-based Scottish Council of Jewish
Communities.
"We suggested to Dr. Simpson that the transplant coordinator
should be well versed in religious beliefs," he commented.
"If the Bill becomes law, the Jewish religious authorities
should be consulted where necessary, especially in instances
where there is no family [of the deceased]."
According to Jewish law, a body should buried whole, but
organ-donation is permitted to save a life. However, the
head of the Glasgow Beth Din, Rabbi Avram Weiss--who has
also held discussions with Dr. Simpson--said there were a
number of halachic gray areas.
Safeguards would need to be applied to ensure that a body
was not tampered with until there was "100 percent"
certainty of death, he said.
"One can't even risk there being a slim chance of a person's
being alive [before organs are removed], because that would
be killing the person," Rabbi Weiss declared.
Dr. Simpson said: "The issues drawn to my attention by the
Jewish community in Scotland were useful."
The points raised had "highlighted the need for proper
training for transplant coordinators" in the religious laws
of all faiths.
He added that his Bill would incorporate a clause that
"would stipulate respect for an individual's religious and
ethical beliefs during any course of organ-donation."
