Hong Kong ‘could restart discussions on organ donation opt-out policy’

Hong Kong authorities could look again at introducing an organ donation opt-out mechanism to boost the city’s low registration rate, a senior health official has said.

Director of Health Ronald Lam Man-kin said on Sunday that the government might restart discussions on implementing such a mechanism.

“As long as residents have the right to choose, there are no human rights issues,” he said.

The policy assumes that everyone in a jurisdiction is willing to donate their organs after death, while having the right to opt out via methods stipulated by the authorities.

Lam said the level of transplant activities in Hong Kong was lower than in many advanced economies such as Spain, which has an opt-out policy.

England, Wales, Scotland, the Netherlands, the Canadian province of Nova Scotia and Singapore are among other locations that have also adopted such a mechanism.