Bishop speaks out against taking organs without consent
By Stephen Adams
14/01/2008

Hospitals must not be allowed to take organs from dead patients without them having consented before every effort is made to help people "opt in" to the current donation system, a leading Anglican bishop has said.

The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Tom Butler, was speaking after Gordon Brown signalled his support for changing the system to one of "presumed consent".

Mr Brown said such a system, where hospitals would be able to use organs unless family members objected, could help avert the "avoidable tragedy" of more than 1,000 people dying every year awaiting organ donation. the rest