Royal Assent: Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill signed into law

What is the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill?

This Bill, presented by Mr Geoffrey Robinson, will allow for consent to organ donation in England to be deemed to have been given by a potential adult organ donor before their death unless they have expressly stated that they did not wish to be an organ donor or an exception applies.

This is often referred to as an “opt-out” system of consent as people may “opt-out” of becoming an organ donor on the premise that they do not consent.

The Act received Royal Assent on 15 March 2019, having completed all its parliamentary stages. Parts of the Act commence (come into force) immediately while other parts commence later.

You can follow its passage, from first reading to Act of Parliament, below.

Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill 2019: Parliamentary passage

You can find explanatory information, bill documents, impartial supporting research and links to transcripts and video of proceedings in both Houses of Parliament:

• Parliament News: House of Commons stages
• Parliament News: House of Lords stages
• Commons Library Briefing: Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill
• Lords Library Briefing: Organ Donation (Deemed Consent)

What is Royal Assent?

Once a bill has completed all the parliamentary stages in both Houses, it is ready to receive Royal Assent. This is when the Queen formally agrees to make the bill into an Act of Parliament (law).

There is no set time period between the end of a bill's passage through Parliament and Royal Assent.

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