A CONSERVATIVE MSP whose son received a life-saving liver transplant has signalled her support for an opt-out transplant system.

Nanette Milne, who is also a GP, said that despite her son's transplant it took her ten years to join the register, "simply because of inertia".

She said an opt-out system - where the public would be given the legal right to opt-in or opt-out - would lead to a more open culture surrounding donation, with families more likely to discuss their wishes..

The MSP for North-East Scotland spoke out at a fringe event held by the British Heart Foundation Scotland at last weekend's Conservative Conference to canvass support for a change to Scotland's transplant system.

A poll of MSPs, party members and researchers carried out at the end of the event was unanimous in support of the move, which the Evening Times is campaigning for.

The politician's son received a liver transplant 20 years ago and she was part of the Health Committee that scrutinised the Human Tissue Bill in 2006.

She said: "Many people are dying every year for want of a suitable donor organ. My son was one of the lucky ones 22 years ago, when after a teenage blighted by an auto-immune hepatitis which culminated in liver failure, a liver transplant saved his life and allowed him to live a normal, active life, completing university, fathering two children and running his own small business.

"It took me nearly ten years after my son's illness until I signed up to donation, simply because of inertia.

"If donation were to become the default position, going ahead unless an individual has indicated an objection to the use of their organs after death, many people feel that this would lead to a more open culture where organ donation would be discussed within families, and that this would result in more people benefiting from transplantation.

"The "soft" opt-out system would still give families a role in the decision making, because they would be asked if they know of any objection by the deceased to donation proceeding, and could stop it if that were the case.

"There is undoubtedly a growing feeling, which I share, that Scotland should consider moving to a soft opt-out system.

"There are many moral and ethical issues to be considered, but I think the time is right to have a serious public debate around organ donation, and I welcome the ongoing efforts to stimulate that debate.

"If a properly educated public indicates a demand for a move to a soft opt-out system of organ donation, then I am sure this would be given serious consideration by the Scottish Parliament, and that certainly would have my approval".

caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk