The Netherlands will not adopt an ‘opt out’ registration system for organ donations even though the shortage of donors is growing, MPs decided on Wednesday.

Instead, the cabinet is to begin a campaign emphasising the importance of organ donation, and may bring back the organ donor card, the Volkskrant reports.
Earlier this year, a government committee recommended that everyone be automatically considered a donor, unless they register their objections. That plan is backed by the Socialists, D66 and GroenLinks MPs.
The Netherlands has had an ‘opt in’ register for 10 years, which replaced the donor card system. Since then, the waiting time for an organ has risen to four years.
Health minister Ab Klink said he was also considering changes to the role of relatives in organ donation. Currently, relatives block some 10% of donations.
Christian Democrat and Labour MPs also urged Klink to consider bringing back the donor card, which people carry with them to alert the authorities that they are a donor.
‘Donor registration confronts people with their own death. And a card is more sensitive to privacy considerations,’ said Labour MP Chantal Gilliard in the Volkskrant.
Klink is to make no changes to the current set up until the likely effect of his proposals has been assessed, the Telegraaf reports. MPs will discuss organ donation again later this year.