In order to prevent people dying because of organ shortage, the British Medical Association (BMA) has drafted a proposal, which, however, has stirred controversies. In a report the BMA has proposed that the organs of the patients, who have been put on ventilator, should be retrieved so that it could be donated to a need person.

However, the proposed idea of the BMA has raised controversies. It has further been pointed out by the BMA that the heart of the new born babies could also be transplanted to the needy one. The Royal Devon and Exeter hospital had been into the practice of taking out organs of the patients, who are on ventilators, but in 1994 the Health Department asked the hospital to demolish the practice.

However, in the US and Spain the practice is already in use. While emphasizing over the need of going ahead with transplant, the BMA said in the report, "The fact that an individual is declared dead following cessation of cardio-respiratory function but the heart is subsequently restarted and transplanted into another person is a difficult concept and one that requires careful explanation".

The BMA team has appraised the efforts of the US in increasing the availability of heart transplants. In the report, the BMA has asked the authorities concerned to hold a discussion over the pros and cons over the suggestions made by the BMA.

The BMA has highlighted that there are a number of doctors who are against the practice of transplanting organs from the patient on the ventilator. These professionals are of the view that such practice would affect the relationship shared by patients with their doctors.

The shortage of organs has led to increased mortality rate. From time to time, the government had been setting up strategies to combat the shortage but till now no concrete method or strategy have been drafted.