Seriously...

The Opt Out


Listen Later

In 2014 Polly Weston's sister Lara died. She had just turned 22. Lara and her family had never discussed organ donation, and she wasn't on the register. But when the family were asked if they would consider donation, they said yes. Out of the tragedy of her death, medics managed to donate her organs to four women, while her eyes saved the sight of three men.

In February a bill passed its second reading in Parliament to say that England would seek to move to an organ donation opt-out system - meaning citizens would be presumed to consent to their organs being donated unless they actively withdrew from the system. It seemed like there was universal support for the announcement. Labour were behind it. Newspapers rejoiced.

But having been through the process, Polly's family were unsure about whether this policy change would bring about an improvement in donations.

Now she asks what does organ donation really mean to families - and will an opt out system really make a difference?

Produced and presented by Polly Weston.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Seriously...By BBC Radio 4

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

258 ratings


More shows like Seriously...

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,389 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

381 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,839 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

162 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,886 Listeners

Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

Thinking Allowed

308 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

501 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,791 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,052 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,141 Listeners

More or Less: Behind the Stats by BBC Radio 4

More or Less: Behind the Stats

898 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

584 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

962 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,921 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,078 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

248 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

827 Listeners

Word of Mouth by BBC Radio 4

Word of Mouth

60 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

747 Listeners

Sliced Bread by BBC Radio 4

Sliced Bread

134 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

736 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

2,962 Listeners

Sideways by BBC Radio 4

Sideways

74 Listeners

Limelight by BBC Radio 4

Limelight

257 Listeners

The History Podcast by BBC Radio 4

The History Podcast

26 Listeners