BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), headquartered at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London (popularly known as the ‘Neasden Temple’), welcomes the backing of MPs for a landmark bill to implement an ‘opt-out’ process for organ donation.
Under the current legislation, donors or their families are required to give permission for their organs to be donated to someone else in the event of their death. However, a new proposed law, backed by the House of Commons in February, would change the landscape of organ donation so that people would have to, instead, declare if they do not wish to be a donor.
The proposed change is enthusiastically supported by BAPS as it could save hundreds of lives each year by increasing organ donation rates and reducing the suffering for those awaiting a transplant.
His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, spiritual leader of BAPS, has inspired and blessed BAPS volunteers to actively raise the importance of organ donation in the community through various initiatives and campaigns. Most recently, during the International Women’s Day Celebrations on 10 March 2018, female donors and recipients shared personal stories that inspired many others to also pledge their organs.
Organ donation conferences have been held at the Mandir focussing on both donation after death (July 2011) and living donation (October 2017). In addition, the Mandir has organised various awareness and recruitment drives to increase the number of people joining the national registers for organ donation and bone marrow donation (most recently in January 2018).
Kirit Modi, a kidney transplant recipient and Life Vice-Chair of the National Kidney Federation, said, “I welcome the decision of introducing an opt-out process in England by the Government. Opting out will generate a national debate which will encourage many people, particularly from the Hindu and Jain communities to make a positive decision to say ‘yes’ to organ donation after their death.
“BAPS has taken the lead in promoting organ donation throughout the Hindu community in the UK for many years with remarkable success. The introduction of opting out will provide greater opportunities to further this work and make a real difference to the lives of those waiting for an organ transplant.”
Yogvivek Swami, Head Swami of BAPS in the UK and Europe, added, “Giving the gift of life is one of the most selfless acts of charity one can perform. Hinduism firmly supports organ donation, and now with the new Government bill, we hope even more lives being can be saved and improved.”
