A new law which proposes to make the island organ donor system ’opt out’ has been granted a second reading in the House of Keys.

This legislation, which would bring the island in line with the UK, would mean that everyone over the age of 18 will be considered ’opted-in’ to organ donation unless they choose to opt out.

We asked the public whether they support the idea.

Brian, aged 75, and Judith Musgrave, 64, from Ballasalla, both think the new organ donation bill is a good idea.

Judith said: ’If you really don’t want to donate your organs, you’d need to opt out. I think it should be routine unless you state otherwise. I think automatically that you should, but you have the right then to say "No, I don’t want to".

’And in the awful event that you have to make that decision, it takes the pressure off the families’

Brian added: ’It’s a good idea.

’And if you’re really against it, then you make your wishes known.’

Val, aged 60, and Rob Buchanan, 62, from Port Erin, both also agree that the Bill is a good thing.

Rob explained: ’When you see the results of people who get those sort of things [organ transplants], you know, it gives more life doesn’t it?

’But people need to make their own decision. It’s not for everybody is it?’

He still agreed that it was right to have the default be an opt-out system, but added: ’As long as everybody is aware of it, and you must have that choice to opt out.’

John Davison, aged 55, from Port Erin, told us: ’I think it’s a good idea.

’I’ve been signed up since 18, so I think it’s a much better option to do that [make it an opt-out system].

’I mean a lot of the problem is around relatives as well though, like myself I’ve been opted in since 18, but I know it still comes down to a relative, whoever’s left behind - it’s their decision to whether it happens or not.

’So I think something needs to be done around that.

’If somebody has opted in, or hasn’t opted out, it’s an automatic process rather than then still going to relatives to say "well, what do you think?"’

Lynn Bridson, aged 57, from Douglas, said: ’I think it’s a good idea.

’I think a lot of people don’t think about it, they don’t pick up the forms and fill them in, so we don’t know what they want when they die.’

Asked if she could think of any potential reasons people would be opposed to it, she said: ’No, because if they’ve got the option to fill a form in to say they don’t want it, then surely they can fill that form in?’