The Maltese and Gozitan population is well-known for their kindness and generosity with those who are in need. This is shown by the fundraising marathons that are held from time to time during which funds are raised in order to help people with various conditions or even voluntary organizations that work in the social sector.

This sense of altruism, where one person shows empathy towards another is even seen among young people. This shows that our younger population does not conform to the typical social stereotype – that they are not interested in anything and do not show any consideration towards anyone or anything. Rather, it is the opposite.

Many are those who face suffering and eventual death, even though they have spent years on a waiting list for organ donation. The continual work that is carried out by the workers in the medical sector and in our hospitals is commendable (such as in the Renal Unit amongst others) and they try their best to ensure that their patients have a longer life expectancy with the least suffering possible. The vocation of the workers in our hospitals must be taken into account. They face continual challenges mostly in the Renal Unit amongst others, where the wards are packed with patients. That is why I appealed and spoke several times in order for us to consider that the donation of organs should be changed from ‘opt-in’ to ‘opt-out’.

However, like everything else in life there are people who are in favour and people who are against.

The situation in countries that use the ‘opt-out’ model is much better than those countries which use an ‘opt-in’ model. In countries that switch from ‘opt-in’ to ‘opt-out’ the situation betters itself both in the sense that there is more organ donation in order to save more lives and even in the sense of providing mental solidarity. What is certain is that the ‘opt-out’ system will save more lives. I fully agree that with this system, we will have more respect towards human autonomy. I am sure that the authorities will wish that more people will decide what happens to their organs when they pass away and the ‘opt-out’ model will facilitate the process.

I think that if we change the system, we will change our mentality. If organ donation becomes our starting point, human solidarity will become the norm. A system where everyone becomes an organ donor from the start would be ensuring that more people would take a decision and register their choice as to whether they would like to be organ donors or not.

With this change in the system we are proposing to place more attention on organ donation. This will lead to discussions made both privately as well as across society.

The ‘opt-out’ message ensures that humanity will take a decision in favour of organ donation, by making an active choice to automatically becoming an organ donor. I too understand that not everyone is in favour of registering himself or herself as an organ donor. Under the current ‘opt-in’ system, there can be the possibility that the deceased does not want to be a donor, however the family can choose to donate the organs on the deceased’s behalf. Or the opposite can happen where the deceased had always wished to become a donor, however he or she does not know how the procedure works, and so that person had never registered on the register of donors. This is a decision that was never given any consideration. This solidarity at its best has never occurred. These two examples paint a clear picture of the whole idea of ‘’Social Solidarity’’. Society is at fault if it is not respecting humanity’s wishes.

We should be aware of these shortcomings if we think that organs should be used in accordance with people’s wishes. With the “opt-out” system we would be encouraging citizens to make a choice. An ‘opt-out’ system correctly categorizes a huge percentage of the population regarding their choice of being organ donors.

Studies show that 80% are in favour of organ donation. Let us be courageous and join forces with these countries that have changed the meaning of passivity, whereby our society can resort to a system that can continue enriching our kindness and solidarity towards the common good. It will make us more generous and altruistic, and continue to strengthen us under the title of a population of solidarity.

Ivan Bartolo is a PN MP and the party’s spokesperson for social housing and poverty reduction