The words to use
- Deemed consent
- The default in every UK nation: an adult who has not recorded a decision is treated as agreeing to donate. Scotland calls it deemed authorisation.
- Soft opt-out
- An opt-out system in which the family is always consulted, and donation does not go ahead if they object.
- Specialist nurse in organ donation
- The NHS Blood and Transplant nurse who leads the family conversation. In 2025/26 consent was 61% with one present and 8% without.
- Tissue-type matching
- Pairing donor and recipient by blood group and tissue type. Matches are likelier within the same ethnic background, so a more diverse donor pool shortens waits.
