Discussion of RGBI's Together Talk

This week’s Fellowship meeting took a different form with members joining Rotary colleagues from across the UK watching a moving, and inspiring, film about organ donation. 

 This told the story of Max, a 9 year old boy who had suffered from life-threatening heart failure in 2017 until a transplant at Newcastle Freeman Hospital gave him an entirely new lease of life.  The donor was another 9 year old called Keira who had tragically died in a road accident but whose parents generously donated her organs to help others.  The transplant operation was a complete success and Max is now a healthy, lively and engaging young man who provided a very thought-provoking description of his experiences.

 The film also described how Max and Keira’s families subsequently campaigned to change UK law as it affects organ donation and the impact this will have on those requiring transplants in the future.  

 In Scotland this means that from March 2021 there will be an assumption that each of us is willing to donate organs for transplant unless we have made an explicit declaration to opt out on the National Organ Donor Register. 

 Having watched this film members subsequently took part in a short discussion about the new law under the chairmanship of acting President, Mike Dow.  This provoked a lively debate that explored many of the ethical and practical issues while highlighting significant support for the remarkable work done by Max and Keira’s families.

 Further details of how this new law will work, and exclusions, can be found at www.organdonationscotland.org/register-your-choice.