MSPs are to decide whether Scotland should introduce a soft opt-out system of organ donation which could increase the number of organs available by 30%.

The change would mean people would be assumed to have given permission for their organs to be used after death unless they have specifically requested otherwise.

Meanwhile the Government intends to take forward a consultation on further methods to increase organ donation and transplantation, including developing a workable soft opt-out system, according to public health minister Maureen Watt

Scottish Labour MSP Anne McTaggart urged MSPs from across all parties to vote in favour of her proposals to introduce a soft opt-out system.

Ms McTaggart said: "This move could lead to an extra 70 donors per year, a figure which NHS Blood and Transplant have described as 'transformative'.

"I have always made it clear that this Bill does not belong to one MSP or one party; organ donation is an issue that crosses party lines and unites us in wanting to save lives.

"However we must accept the reality of the situation we find ourselves in. Last year deceased donor rates fell by almost 8% and deceased donor transplants by 13%. This year's data looks just as worrying, with an expected 16% reduction in deceased donor rates and an 8% reduction in transplants.

'Flawed'

Ms Watt said more needed to be done to improve the rate of organ donation, but claimed the Bill was "seriously flawed".

She said: "We've worked hard to deliver a range of measures that have resulted in significant increases in the availability of organs for transplantation.

"Since 2008, we have seen an 82% increase in the number of deceased organ donors in Scotland, a 42% increase in the number of transplants undertaken and a 21% reduction in the active transplant waiting list.

"But while we're very supportive of measures to increase organ availability, in our view the Member's Bill before the Scottish Parliament is seriously flawed and could actually harm organ donation.

"Many of the measures set out in the Bill could make things worse due to legal ambiguities and delays in decision-making processes. We have concerns that the proposals around authorised investigating persons (AIPs) and proxies will add significant complexity into the donation pathway, and may lead to potential donors being lost.

"We also have concerns that provisions in relation to adults with incapacity may make it difficult for such adults, or their relatives, to opt-out, leaving them 'locked in' to donation.

"However, this Bill has helped to raise the profile of the debate about how we can increase the number of organ donors - bringing these important issues to the fore. What is clear is that both the public and MSPs share a desire to look again at what more can be done to help the hundreds of people that are waiting for a life-saving transplant in Scotland each year."