NHS campaign to address organ donor family issue

A new campaign has been launched by the NHS aiming to address a problem linked to organ donating.

Through its Respect My Dying Wish initiative, the service hopes to prevent instances of families ignoring the requests of people wanting to give away their organs when they die.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is behind the campaign, which will use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as video upload site YouTube, to get its message spread as far as possible.

Kevin Rooney, an anaesthesia and intensive care medicine consultant, noted: "One of the biggest obstacles to successful transplants is actually relatives refusing to allow organs or tissue to be taken from a loved one who has passed away."

Mr Rooney explained it is often the case that distraught family members are so upset they do not give permission for the organs to be taken, despite the deceased previously agreeing to such an outcome.