THE message was straightforward – people are dying needlessly – and it was heard loud and clear.

The Evening Times took its Opt For Life campaign to the Scottish Parliament at the invitation of the Petitions Committee, who agreed to take it forward.

Already the campaign has the backing of a majority of MSPs, enough to pass a law to introduce a presumed-consent policy on organ donation with safeguards built in for those who want to opt out.

Medical associations and health charities are fully behind the call for a change which could, in a year, achieve what might take decades under the current system – that is an increase in the number of available organs to a level where death on a waiting list is no longer commonplace.

David Stewart, the committee convener, said the petition was among the best he had heard and said the campaign should be a model for others to follow.

The donor registration list has increased in recent years thanks to government and health board campaigns, but is still disappointingly low and at 40% and remains well out of sync with the 90% who support organ donation.

No-one will be forced to donate organs after death and safeguards for family wishes will be in place.

As Mr Stewart said, Opt for Life is something 'every right thinking person would want to support'.