Scots actor
Robert Carlyle backs the Evening Times' Opt for Life organ donation campaign
The Full
Monty and Trainspotting star signed the Glasgow Evening Times petition calling for an opt-out system
of organ donation in Scotland.
The Glasgow
actor said he was "absolutely delighted" to support the plea for a
change in the country's transplant laws to help drive up donor rates.
The
51-year-old put pen to paper at Glasgow's Royal Infirmary, at an event
organised by Kidney Research UK (Scotland).
The Maryhill-born
actor recently had surgery to remove a growth from his nose.
Scores of
Scots celebrities have already backed the campaign including presenter and
journalist Lorraine Kelly, football pundit Alan Hansen, cyclist Graeme Obree
and Old Firm legends Davie Hay and Derek Johnstone and writer Denise Mina.
A poll
carried out by the Evening Times showed half the country's MSPs would support a
switch to an opt-out system where everyone is automatically a donor unless they
say no.
Carlyle is
busy promoting his latest film, California Solo, where he plays an ageing
rocker facing deportation after being caught drink driving.
He can also
be seen on Channel 5 on Sunday nights in the television fantasy drama series,
Once Upon a Time.
Liz
McGuinness, regional fundraiser for Kidney Research UK, was manning the
petition stall at the GRI when she spotted the actor.
She said:
"I explained to him that people were spending four hours on dialysis
because they are waiting for transplants.
"He gave
me a kiss and said you are doing a fantastic job. He was really supportive and
lovely."
As the paper's media
partner, Kidney Research UK has been working hard to promote the petition the
length and breadth of Scotland and thousands have signed up.
Around 90% of
patients who are waiting for a transplant are waiting for a kidney.
The campaign
has been backed by the British Medical Association, the British Heart
Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
More than
half of Scots are not on the current organ donor register despite research
showing the majority support the idea of organ donation.
Supporters of
opt-out say the current system leaves relatives facing an agonising decision
because they do not know their loved ones' wishes.
Research
shows countries with an opt-out system in place tend to have higher donor
rates.
Source: Glasgow Evening Times
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