SNP
President
Ian Hudghton
MEP has
voted in
favour
of plans in
the European
Parliament
for Europe
wide
co-operation
to deal with
the shortage
of organ
donors. They
include
proposals
for a
European
organ donor
card
complementary
to existing
systems, and
measures to
tackle organ
trafficking.
The plans
have broad
cross party
support and
it is
estimated
that around
40,000
people
across the
EU are
currently
waiting for
an organ
transplant.
Speaking
after the
vote in
Strasbourg,
Ian Hudghton
MEP said:
"There is a
Europe wide
shortage of
donor organs
and these
proposals
could help
deal with
that
problem.
Having a
voluntary
register
which
complements
existing
provisions
could
certainly
broaden the
pool of
potential
donors and
help save
lives.
"The
proposals
include a
European
organ donor
card and
measures to
tackle organ
trafficking
and what has
been
described as
'transplant
tourism'.
"It makes
sense for
there to be
co-operation
on this
issue at
European
level, and
lives saved
as a
result."
MEPs meeting
in
Strasbourg
considered a
report which
said that
whilst the
use of human
organs for
transplant
has
increased
over recent
years, the
number of
people
requiring a
transplant is
now greater
than the
number of
organs
available.
They
considered a
number of
proposals
including a
Europe wide
organ donor
card
complementary
to national
systems, measures
to ensure
organ
donations
remain
non-commercial
and measures
to combat
organ
trafficking.
