Presumed consent: a distraction in the quest for increasing rates of organ donation

Spain has the highest rate of organ donation in the world and is often cited as a successful example of presumed consent legislation. However, the country does not have an opt-out register, nor is public awareness of the 1979 legislation promoted. John Fabre, Paul Murphy, and Rafael Matesanz argue that the presumed consent legislation is dormant, and that Spain in fact demonstrates it is possible to have the highest rates of organ donation without recourse to presumed consent