Organ donation laws

Organ donation laws vary across different countries in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and the Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

This page outlines the current legislative position for each of those areas, and the choices you can make.

England

English organ donation law has changed. All adults in England are now considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they have recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.

Read about the law in England

Wales

The legislation for Wales is ‘deemed consent’. This means that if you haven’t registered an organ and tissue donation decision, you will be considered to have no objection to becoming a donor.

Read about the law in Wales

Scotland

The legislation for Scotland is ‘deemed authorisation’. This means that if you have not confirmed whether you want to be a donor or not, you will be considered to be willing to donate your organs and tissue when you die.

Read about the law in Scotland

Northern Ireland

The legislation in Northern Ireland has changed to an opt-out system of consent, in line with other regions of the UK. This means that if you haven’t registered an organ and tissue donation decision, you will be considered to have no objection to becoming a donor.

Read about the law in Northern Ireland

Crown dependencies

Information about the current legislation around organ donation in Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man and any proposed changes.

Read about the law in crown dependencies

What is meant by deemed consent, deemed authorisation, and presumed consent for organ donation?

All of these phrases describe a system for organ donation within which - unless you have recorded a decision not to donate (opted out), or are in an excluded group - it will be considered that you agree to be an organ donor when you die. This is also commonly referred to as an opt-out system.

In an opt-out system, you still have a choice if you want to be an organ donor or not when you die and you can record this decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.