A LEADING proponent of organ donation is facing some embarrassment after she gave MSPs incorrect information about transplant rates at a key meeting to discuss a change in the law in Scotland.

As Wales became the first country to introduced an automatic organ donor register, politicians met for the third time yesterday to discuss a bill to introduce a similar policy in Scotland.

Lorna Marson, vice president of the British Transplantation Society, said it was “not clear” from international evidence that the change results in an increase in transplants. She told a panel of MSPs: “Croatia has the second highest rate (of organ donation) and they have an opt-in system.”

However, it was pointed out that Croatia, operates an opt-out system – similar to the new Welsh law – where individuals are required to register an objection if they do not wish to become donors. In 2011 the country carried out 91 transplants per million population, the highest in the world.

Glasgow Labour MSP Anne McTaggart is taking forward the Transplantation (Authorisation of Removal of Organs) Scotland Bill on the back of the Evening Times’ Opt for Life campaign.

Sally Johnson, UK director of Organ Donation and Transplantation, said the change had the potential to lead to an extra 70 transplants a year in Scotland. The country currently carries out about 100 annually.

The committee heard that changing the law in Wales had “brought organ donation into the public’s consciousness”.

Ms Johnson said that the legislative process had had a profound impact on attitudes to donation. The latest research shows up to 80 per cent of people understand the change and only three per cent have ‘opted out’ of donation. She said: “They have got something into the consciousness of the public by going through the legislative process. This bill (in Scotland) is already generating a positive effect.”

The Health and Sport committee also heard from specialist nurses Liz Waite and Irene Young and Professor Alison Britton of the Law Society of Scotland.

Everyone giving evidence called for more clarity about certain aspects of the bill, including the option for individuals to appoint a proxy. Ms McTaggart said the bill was not a “tablet of stone” and was open to amendments.

Addressing those giving evidence, Ms McTaggart said: “I sincerely applaud the work that you all do. The bill has come around because we need to increase organ donation rates. We know there are 571 people waiting for a transplant. We need to do more. This is not a magic bullet but the current system is not fit for purpose.”

The Scottish Government has set a target to increase deceased organ donor rates to 26 per million population by 2020.

Figures show the rate has increased by just 0.3 per cent in the past three years to 17.9 per million people.

When contacted by the Evening Times Ms Marson said: "I have now looked in the literature and I stand corrected: Croatia have had opt-out legislation since 1988.

"I would maintain my position that a change in legislation alone is unlikely to transform organ donor numbers, but might form one part of a campaign to raise public awareness and to ensure that people tell their relatives of their desire to donate or not."