GLASGOW MSP Anne McTaggart has urged MSPs to put their political differences aside and "fight for the lives" of the 600 Scots patients who are waiting for a transplant.

The politician is driving forward a member's bill to introduce an opt-out system of organ donation in Scotland, where individuals are not required to sign up to the national register if they wish to donate organs after death.

The Scottish Government has until 4pm today (Thursday) to indicate if it will legislate.

If not, the Labour MSP will have the right to introduce her Organ and Tissue Donation (Scotland) Bill, which has received cross-party support.

The government has said it is waiting to analyse the results of the Welsh law change - due to come into force on December 1. However, the Labour politician, have argued against a delay saying it could be at least 2020 before any reasonable analysis could take place and a further two years before legislation is introduced.

Ms McTaggart said: "Three people die every day in the UK waiting for a transplant. Delaying this change for seven years could mean 7,500 people across the UK lose their lives.

"This is not a party political issue. We simply can't hang around waiting for an unknown cure.

"We must continue fighting for lives."

Families, transplant patients, MSPs and charity leaders joined the Labour politician at a meeting at the Scottish Parliament yesterday to garner support for her proposed bill.

Under a 'soft' opt-out system families will still be consulted about the final decision. Those who have a strong objection will, for the first time, have the right to record their wishes in their lifetime.

The Evening Times' has led a three-year campaign calling for the live-saving change.

The British Heart Foundation Scotland urged the Scottish Government to act, now, saying "We have all the evidence we need" from at least 14 countries - that opt-out leads to an increase in donation rates.

David McColgan, policy advisor for the charity, who was involved in the Welsh legislation, said: "British Heart Foundation Scotland doesn't seen this as a silver bullet.

"It is one pillar that will create a world-class organ donation system.

"We don't see this as the end. We see it as the beginning of the conversation.

"In Norway, when they introduced an opt-out system, it was just one pillar that also included other things including improved training for staff.

"We don't hold the Scottish Government's argument that we should wait for the Welsh evidence to be analysed.

"We have decades of evidence from at least 14 European countries.

"British Heart Foundation has been supportive of the Scottish Government's attempts to increase organ donation. We now have between 40 and 41% on the donor register.

"However, we still have the second lowest rates in the four nations.

"It is always promoted that the number on the organ donor register is increasing but that may not always be the trend.

"We don't see this as the end. We see it as the beginning of the conversation."

Dr Sue Roberson, a kidney doctor and the BMA's Scottish representative believes the majority of MSPs will be supportive of the change, when it is explained.

She said: "We need MSPs to understand how small a change it is.

"I don't think that enough is said about how much easier it would be for bereaved families to make the decision. Asking relatives, 'do you know of any objections they may have had to organ donation?' is far gentler rather than asking them to make the full decision."

Mauro Weingarten, 61, from Giffnock, who received a life-saving liver transplant last year, is fully behind the change.

The 61-year-old, who is originally from Brazil, was told only a transplant could save his life after doctors found three tumours on his liver.

He waited 8 months for the call, which came on September 19, the day after the Scottish referendum.

He said: "I didn't know if I was going to have the curtain pulled down on me. I feel for the people who have to wait longer."