PEOPLE in Scotland are being urged by a Glasgow MSP to make their views known about organ donation.

In less than a week, a public consultation on a proposed bill to change the country's transplant laws will close.

Labour MSP Anne McTaggart and the Evening Times want the Scottish Government to switch to an opt-out system of organ donation, following the lead of Wales.

Under the change, people will have deemed to have given their consent to organ donation unless they have opted out of the process during their lifetime.

The Welsh system will allow family members to provide information to show the deceased person would have not have wished to consent.

Major charities including the British Heart Foundation believe the change will lead to an increase in the number of donors because research shows that while most people agree with organ donation, the majority do not sign up to the existing 'opt-in' register - less than half in Scotland.

Campaigners say an opt-out system will make it easier for families to make the agonising decision to consent to donation.

Around 600 people in Scotland are currently waiting for a transplant.

Anne McTaggart, MSP, said: "With only a week left to the end of the public consultation on my proposed bill, it is really important that as many people as possible provide their views.

"For the past three months I have travelled across Scotland, speaking to hundreds of people about the introduction of an opt-out system of organ donation and the response I have received so far has been overwhelmingly positive.

"The strong evidence in favour of reform has secured broad support for my proposals; 80% of those who have responded so far have been in favour of an opt-out system.

"I have meetings set up in early October with a range of stakeholders to discuss the findings of the consultation which will be another step forward in the process of bringing the proposed bill to Parliament.

"I would again urge as many people as possible who feel strongly about this issue to read and respond to the consultation document before September 25."

The Scottish Government has said it is waiting for an evaluation of the Welsh system, which is due to come into force on December 1 next year.

caroline.wilson @eveningtimes.co.uk