Hugh Henry, who represents Renfrewshire South, is supporting Labour colleague Anne McTaggart’s bid to shake up the current system of organ donation in Scotland with her proposed Organ Donation Scotland Bill.

The Bill would mean that, unless they had already declared to opt out, everyone would automatically be an organ donor. Mr Henry has already decided he wants his organs to be used after his death to give someone the chance of an improved life. The Labour man has carried his donor card for more than 11 years and believes many more thousands of people would be willing to do the same but haven’t got round to signing up for one.

He told The Gazette: “We know that organ donors can save lives. Unfortunately, many people think about signing up but for one reason or another don’t and the need for organs gets greater.

“Many lives could be saved if people have to opt out rather than opt in and I would urge everyone to think very seriously about supporting the whole concept of an opt-out donor scheme here in Scotland.

“No-one will be forced to donate their organs there will be many safeguards built in and anyone can opt out of the scheme. We have to be clear, however, that people lose their lives waiting on a transplant and we can all make a difference. By signing up for organ donation, we can perhaps change the life of someone who is desperately waiting on that call to say a transplant is available.” The Bill, presented to the Scottish Parliament last week, proposes to amend the current “opt-in” system where anyone wishing to become a donor adds their name to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Instead the proposals mean that unless an adult has expressed an objection and “opted out” of the organ donor register their organ and tissue could be removed posthumously.

Mr Henry added: “I’ve met heartbroken families whose lives have been devastated when a loved one died waiting for a transplant. Too many lives are being lost. I have also met many people whose lives have been transformed by a transplant.

“It is important that those who object still have the opportunity to opt-out and this will happen. Families should be consulted at the time of death to establish any objection of the deceased that had not been registered.

“One of my own constituents — the very brave and inspiring Louise Davidson — lost her battle for life at the age of 22 after fighting cystic fibrosis from birth. Despite her own health problems Louise took it upon herself to front a national NHS campaign to push the message of organ donation across after her own life was transformed with a double lung transplant in 2012.

“Doctors told her family she had only hours to live before she went through the lifesaving operation which gave her two more precious years. Louise knew she was never going to live as long as others but she never gave up the fight and her legacy lives on as family and friends urge more people to sign up to the donor register. “