IT’S wonderful news that a new bill meaning people would have to opt out of organ donation instead of opting in has passed its first hurdle unopposed.

The Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill was passed in the Commons and could mean that the lives of the 500 or so people who die each year while waiting for a transplant would be saved. It offers help and hope to thousands of families.

It would also be a fairer situation if those who decided to opt out would also be opting out of receiving any organ. But I suspect that won’t happen.