New Nova Scotia legislation recently made headlines across the nation, for all the right reasons.

Earlier this month, Nova Scotia became the first jurisdiction in North America to implement presumed consent around organ donation.

What that means is everyone is considered a consenting organ donor when they die, unless they specifically opt out.

RELATED: Nova Scotia鈥檚 presumed consent organ donation law now in effect

It鈥檚 a process that has been legislated in other parts of the world, with overwhelming evidence of its effectiveness.

Spain introduced presumed consent legislation 40 years ago.

In 2019, 14.9 per cent of Spanish residents opted out, meaning 85 per cent of Spanish residents are effectively organ donors. (source: )

In B.C., where people must register in order to be an organ donor, or 鈥榦pt in鈥� so to speak, there are currently 1,555,498 registered donors.

That鈥檚 less than 31 per cent.

According to , there are 736 patients currently awaiting transplants in our province.

Canadian Blood Services states 鈥�90 per cent of Canadians approve of organ and tissue donation yet, only 23 per cent say they have registered their decision to become an organ and tissue donor.鈥�

So why the discrepancy?

That is a question that confounds many experts.

The most common belief is that people simply have not gotten around to it. There鈥檚 always time, right?

Well, we can hope so. But the truth is, we don鈥檛 know. And the problem is, it鈥檚 never too late鈥� until it鈥檚 too late.

In that regard, it only makes sense for B.C. politicians to legislate presumed consent.

In the meantime, we urge all British Columbians to 鈥渙pt in,鈥� by registering as an organ donor.

Four minutes. That鈥檚 all it takes to register online at t

All you need is your BC Health number, and in 240 seconds, you might save someone鈥檚 life.

It could be the most selfless, heroic act you ever perform, and it won鈥檛 cost you a dime.

Do it now; before it鈥檚 too late. It鈥檚 too important to wait for legislation.

鈥揃lack Press