The mother of a teenager whose organs were donated to four people after he died has welcomed a proposal to change the law for donations.

Garff MHK Martyn Perkins was given leave in the House of Keys this week to introduce legislation to pave the way for a system of ’presumed consent’ in which organ donation would be the default option, unless you have explicitly opted out.

This would replace the current system in which people are required to opt-in if they wish to make their organs available for transplants following their death.

Diane Taylor lost her teenage son Daniel following a car accident in Lezayre in 2007 but draws comfort fromin the knowledge that his organs helped save the lives of four others.

Now a member of the Organ Donation Committee, she welcomed the move towards an opt-out system.

She said: ’Raising awareness and getting people to think about donating their organs is so hard.

’If the opt-out system comes in, then the individual will have to make that decision based on their own beliefs. It will get people talking more about donation.

’With three people dying every day, including tiny babies and children, while on the transplant list because of a shortage of organs then it really is time to do something.

’You are far more likely to need a transplant than donate your organs. If someone had said to me "Diane we can save Daniel with a new heart" then without a second thought his dad and I would have said yes.’

Mr Perkins told MHKs: ’The limiting factor for transplants are the number of organs available, and I believe the time has come to do something about it. With presumed consent, you are automatically registered as a donor. You can always opt out at any time if you change your mind.’

Mr Perkins said there are already 12,600 people from the Isle of Man on the UK organ donor register but that ’we can and need to do better’.

He said there are currently nine people in the Isle of Man waiting for an organ transplant and he understood that since 2013 six people have died while waiting for a transplant.

Mr Perkins pointed out that several other jurisdictions, including Wales, have successfully brought in presumed consent. Scotland is looking to follow suit and Theresa May last month announced a consultation on such a move in England.

Although the Manx government has plans to bring forward changes to modernise the laws on organ donation in 2019-20, Mr Perkins said that was too long to wait. He pledged a full public consultation.

Mr Perkins was seconded by Ramsey MHK and GP, Dr Alex Allinson, who said: ’Unfortunately we are not doing as well as other jurisdictions and not, perhaps, doing as well as we should be to help people blighted by chronic diseases.’

Health Minister Kate Beecroft said she supported the principle of what Mr Perkins was proposing but warned against rushing anything, especially as other jurisdictions were still assessing their position.

Mr Perkins agreed: ’It is important we do not rush this, we do take on board everything other jurisdictions have learned - but it is important we get it moving.’

The Garff MHK received unanimous support to introduce his private member’s bill.