Ministers favour organ donor opt-out system in landmark vote

Government Ministers have given their backing to a new proposed law in favour of an organ donor opt-out system in the UK.

The new bill, which is named 'Max's Law', after nine-year-old Max Johnson from Cheshire, could save 200 extra lives every year.

Max benefited from a heart transplant following the death of Keira Ball who died in a road accident last year.

Jackie Doyle-Price said the bill could save 200 extra lives every year. She said: "I'm very grateful to him for bringing this Bill and to confirm that the Government will give its wholehearted support."

She added that the Government would be referring to the changes as Max's Law, after nine-year-old Max Johnson, who benefited from a heart transplant following the death of Keira Ball who died in a road accident last year.

Keira's father said: "This could be an inspiration to ensure that they too sign up for organ donation and will give them strength if they have to face similar circumstances."

He added: "Keira's story and Max's story demonstrate that more organs mean more saved lives.

Labour's Geoffrey Robinson, who introduced the bill, said it would not "make an immediate difference tomorrow" but hoped in the coming years it would increase the availability of organs.

He added: "Over the last few years the steady increase in donations and transplantations has slowed and in the last four years, to be more precise, it has in effect in England plateaued. So, against this background there has been a grave concern that a certain inertia is setting in."

The Bill received an unopposed second reading and will now undergo further scrutiny at committee stage.

Max's mum spoke to ITV Granada about organ donation: