Re: Organ Donors
I understood the opt out system in England was going to be like the "soft opt-out" system they have in Wales.
It's not compulsory, it's just changing from a "deemed refusal" to a "deemed consent" if you haven't already registered a choice.
Basically, if you definitely don't want to be an organ donor or don't want to donate specific organs, you can choose to opt out by registering your choice on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
If you wish, you can nominate a member of your family to make Organ donation decisions on your behalf if the situation arises on your death - you do this via the NHS Organ Donor Register too.
If you definitely wish to be an organ donor, you can still opt in, via the NHS Organ Donor Register, to ensure your wishes are recorded and leave your family in no doubt.
If you haven't registered to opt in or opt out, then you fall into the category of "deemed consent"
Under "deemed consent" in Wales, your family will still be advised and have the power to over-ride the deemed consent if they are strongly against it. Not sure if this will apply in England but I presume so.
Personally, I think people would be well advised to register their choices themselves, whether they want to opt in or opt out, so both the doctors and your family are left in no doubt of your choice.
You do not have to carry an "opt out" card or an "opt in" card because the NHS Organ Donor Register will be checked to see whether you have registered a choice.
To register your choice on the Organ Donor Register, you will just have to go onto the relevant website and complete your details and your options.
I think they are also bringing out a new App for it and, if you don't have a computer, there will be other methods to Register.
I think the information on how to register your opt-out will be well publicised before it all comes into Law. It will work in pretty much the same way as you would currently register your choice to opt-in as an Organ Donor - just go to the NHS Organ Donor Register website.
You can probably already register your refusal now if you want - you can certainly opt in to donate All or just Some specified organs now - and I notice the site also contains an opt-out choice.
It only takes a couple of minutes to register your choice - and you can amend your options on the Register too, if you change your mind in the future.
https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/