Dáithí’s Law: Organ donation legislation to come into force in June
The legislation is named in honour of six-year-old Daithí Mac Gabhann who is waiting for a new heart
Last updated 2nd Mar 2023
A new opt-out organ donation law is set to come into force on June 1 in Northern Ireland.
The legislation which received Royal ascent earlier this week means adults in the region will be considered as potential organ donors unless they choose to opt out or are in an excluded group.
The legislation is called " Dáithí’s Law" named in honour of six-year-old Daithí Mac Gabhann from Belfast, who is waiting for a new heart.
Dáithí and his family have campaigned extensively for years for the legislation to be passed here.
However, the possibility of the law passing all its necessary hurdles was plunged into uncertainty earlier this year because of on-going the political impasse at Stormont.
It meant local Assembly members were unable to convene to pass the regulations.
Nevertheless,
Ahead of its introduction, the Public Health Agency will conduct an extensive public education and awareness campaign to make sure people understand the new system.
Those excluded from deemed consent legislation are children under 18, people who lack the mental capacity to understand the change in law and visitors to Northern Ireland and temporary residents
Specialist nursing staff will continue to speak to families about donation, as well as considerations around faith and beliefs, before any organ or tissue donation goes ahead.
Peter May, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, said: "June 1 will mark another important milestone for organ donation in Northern Ireland.
"The new law will strengthen the current legislative framework around organ donation and will increase the current rate of consent in the small number of cases in which it is clinically possible for organ donation to proceed after a person's death.
"Doing so will increase the overall number of donors, and ultimately the number of lifesaving organs available for transplantation.
"I know that many people in Northern Ireland have campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of organ donation and I want to commend them for all their work in this area."
Dáithí’s father, Mairtín Mac Gabhann, said: "It was a very proud day for our family and campaign to have Dáithí’s Law included as an amendment on the Executive Formation Bill.
"To hear Dáithí’s name mentioned again, and again, in the House of Commons was something we will treasure forever.
"It was an incredibly difficult couple of weeks to get where we wanted to be, but we are just delighted to be here now and to see that Dáithí’s Law will be in effect by Spring 2023, as planned, is just the cherry on top.
" Dáithí continues to fight every day while he waits for the gift of a new heart, and we hope that this change in law helps make organ donation the norm in society, along with education and further awareness.
"We will never stop spreading the positive message of organ donation, as we hope that one day it will save our Dáithí’s life."
The British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland has said it is delighted that Dáithí’s Law will officially go live in three months time.
Head of British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland, Fearghal McKinney, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the news that Dáithí’s Law will go live on June 1st.
“Dáithí and his family have made history, and because of all their hard work, they will now help give a brighter future to all those waiting on the gift of life.
“We are proud to have supported the Donate4Dáithí campaign and honoured to have joined the family at Westminster last week to see Dáithí’s Law passed.
“There will now be a public information campaign explaining what the new law will mean and I would encourage everyone to have the conversation about organ donation with their loved ones so that, in a time of crisis, they can give the gift of life to others.”
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