THE Evening Times will make the case for an opt-out transplant system at the Scottish Parliament.

Our campaign calling for a move to a system of presumed consent will be heard by the Public Petitions Committee on December 11.

Evening Times Editor Tony Carlin and reporter Caroline Wilson will give evidence to a panel of MSPs.

We launched our Opt For Life Campaign in October last year to help save more patients waiting for life-saving transplants.

Three people die each day in the UK waiting for a transplant.

An opt-out system means the default position is that everyone is a donor, but people would still have the right to say no – in other words, to opt out.

Families would still be consulted.

Research shows the family refusal rate is far lower in countries that operate an opt-out system.

More than half of MSPs have indicated to the Evening Times they would support a change in the country's transplant laws. More than 10,000 people have signed our petition.

Our award-winning campaign has also been backed by the British Medical Association and Scotland Patients Association, as well as charities, including Kidney Research UK, British Heart Foundation, the Kidney Federation, Diabetes UK and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Labour MSP Drew Smith is preparing to lodge a Member's Bill calling for an opt-out system.

Mr Carlin said: "The Scottish Government has done a superb job in changing rules and regulations to encourage more donors.

"However, many more donors are needed.

"We firmly believe switching to 'opt-out' will transform and save many more lives."

A five-year review of organ donation practices in the UK is due to be completed early next year.

A number of targets were set in 2008, including a 50% increase in donor rates in Scotland, which has been met.

In 2008 Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who was then also Scottish Health Secretary, said: "This target will be achieved without changing existing law on organ donation.

"However, in addition to this, I think it is really important that we consider seriously every potential way of increasing donation rates."

Around three in five people in Scotland are not on the organ donor register.