LONDON, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- British lawmakers in the House of Commons voted Friday to pave the way for an organ transplant act of parliament that will save hundreds of lives in England every year.
A government-supported private member's bill will introduce an opt-out law for organ transplants, replacing the current rules which mean people must opt-in if they want their organs used for transplants when they die.
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party took part in Friday's debate to urge MPs to support what he described as a wonderful measure which he said would save many lives.
The new bill, backed by politicians from different parties, will now go through parliamentary measures and is expected to be introduced by the end of this year. An opt-out system has already been introduced in Wales by the devolved Welsh government.
MP Sharon Hodgson said for thousands of people the bill is a matter of life and death.
"1,000 people a year in this country, that is three a day, die while waiting for a transplanted organ. Around the country there are 50,000 people living with transplanted organs," she said.
The new measures will mean that unless a person has registered their opposition to their organs being used for transplant, medics will be legally allowed to take organs from people after they have passed away.
Under the new bill's soft opt-out proposals, the wishes of families would continue to be respected, so removal of organs would not go ahead without their support.
MP Geoffrey Robinson, who has introduced the measure in the British parliament, said the measure would give many people a second chance at life. He said research by the British Heart Foundation showed that while 90 percent of people were in favor of the principle of organ donation, only about 35 percent had actively given their consent.
Currently there are 25 million people on the voluntary organ donor register in Britain.
