How to Opt Out of Organ Donation in Ireland | HSE Opt-Out Regi ter

Deciding whether to donate your organs is a deeply personal choice, and Ireland’s soft opt‑out system means you’re automatically considered a potential donor when you turn 18 — unless you take a few minutes to say otherwise. If you’ve decided that organ donation isn’t for you, this guide walks through exactly how to opt out through the HSE’s official register, whether online, by phone, or by post.

Opt-out register status: Active, maintained by HSE ·
Online opt-out: Available via HSE website ·
Phone opt-out number: 1800 700 700 ·
Change of mind: Permitted at any time

Six key facts about the opt‑out register, one pattern: the HSE has made it just as easy to opt out as it is to stay in.

How do I opt out of organ donation in Ireland?

Opting out online

1. Go to the HSE opt‑out page (HSE (Irish health service)).
2. Enter your name, address, date of birth, and PPS number. You must be 18 or older and have lived in Ireland for at least one year.
3. Submit the form. You’ll receive confirmation that your name has been added to the opt‑out register.

The implication: the online route takes about five minutes and requires only a PPS number and basic details. No special equipment needed.

Opting out by phone

• Call HSE Live on 1800 700 700 (freephone) (Citizens Information (official Irish public service information)).
• A staff member will ask for your name, address, and PPS number. If you need help, someone else can call on your behalf — they’ll be asked their name, address, and relationship to you.
• You’ll get a confirmation reference there and then.

What this means: the phone route works for people without internet access or who prefer to talk through the process with a real person. The HSE confirms the decision immediately.

Opting out by post

• Download the opt‑out form from the HSE website.
• Print, complete, and sign it.
• Post it to the address printed on the form.

The trade‑off: postal opt‑out takes longer because of mailing time, but it’s a solid option for those who want a paper trail.

What is the HSE relevant organ donation opt‑out register?

Purpose of the register

The opt‑out register is a central list of people who do not wish to donate their organs after death. It was created as part of Ireland’s move to a soft opt‑out system, which means every adult (18+) is automatically considered a potential donor unless they take active steps to opt out (HSE (Irish health service)).

How the register works

• Your name stays on the register until you ask to be removed.
• If you are on the register, your organs will not be donated. Your next of kin will not be asked about donation, nor can they change your decision.
• The register is separate from any medical records and is managed by the HSE.

The pattern: the register is a one‑way switch — you’re either in (opt‑out) or out (donor by default). No middle ground unless you tell your family specific wishes.

Who is included automatically?

Anyone aged 18 or over who normally lives in Ireland and has done so for at least one year is automatically a potential donor. The opt‑out register does not apply to children under 18, visitors, short‑term residents, or people who lacked capacity to decide before death.

Can I change if I don’t want to be an organ donor?

Removing your name from the opt‑out register

Yes — you can remove yourself at any time. Use the same online form, call 1800 700 700, or post a removal request. The HSE says there is no closing date or waiting period.

Adding your name back

If you later decide you do want to opt out again, you can re‑register. The process is identical to the initial opt‑out.

Telling your family

The HSE strongly advises that you tell your next of kin about your decision — whether you choose to donate or opt out. If you want to donate only specific organs, you should tell them, because your family will be asked to give consent for your wishes.

The implication: the system is designed for flexibility, not permanence.

What is the only organ that cannot be donated?

Organs that cannot be transplanted

The brain cannot be donated. This is because brain tissue cannot survive the transplant process and a functioning brain is essential to life. All other major organs — heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys — can be transplanted (HSE (Irish health service)). Corneas, skin, bone, and heart valves can also be donated.

Reasons for non‑transplantability

Certain medical conditions (e.g., active cancer, severe infections, organ failure) may prevent donation of specific organs, but the only absolute non‑transplantable organ is the brain. The HSE assesses each potential donor individually (Liv Hospital (healthcare provider)).

Why this matters: many people worry their entire body would be used, but the reality is far more selective.

How do I become an organ donor in Ireland?

Registering your wishes

Under the soft opt‑out system, you do not need to register to become a donor. You simply do nothing. If you want to formally record your wishes, you can add your name to the organ donor register (which is the inverse of the opt‑out register) — though the HSE says there is no separate opt‑in register.

Carrying a donor card

A donor card is a personal reminder, not a legal requirement. You can request one from the HSE or download it. It signals your intention but does not replace the default consent under soft opt‑out.

Telling your family

The most important step: tell your next of kin that you want to be an organ donor. Under Irish law, your family will be consulted and asked to give consent for your wishes. If they are unaware of your decision, they might refuse donation on your behalf (HSE Live Facebook (official HSE social media)).

The implication: inaction is itself a decision under this system.

What the evidence shows

Confirmed facts

• You can opt out via HSE website, phone (1800 700 700), or post (HSE (Irish health service))
• You can change your mind at any time (HSE (Irish health service))

What’s unclear

• Exact number of people on the opt‑out register (not publicly published)
• Official HSE list of all organs deemed non‑transplantable (aside from brain) — assessment is case‑by‑case
• Your family will be informed of your opt-out decision — scope of notification process not fully detailed
• Next of kin cannot override your decision — legal mechanism not fully described in public materials
• The brain is the only organ that cannot be donated — supported by clinical sources, not explicitly listed as such by HSE

Quotes from official sources

“If you do not want to be an organ donor, you can opt out by adding your name to the opt‑out register.”
— HSE official website (HSE (Irish health service))

“Your family or next of kin will be informed of your decision.”
— HSE Facebook post (HSE Live Facebook (official HSE social media))

“Phone HSE Live on 1800 700 700 to opt out.”
— Citizens Information (Citizens Information (official Irish public service information))

The HSE’s three‑channel opt‑out system gives adults in Ireland a straightforward way to make their wishes known. Whether you choose online, phone, or post, the decision is legally binding and your family cannot undo it. For the vast majority of people who do nothing, the default is donation — a quiet but powerful choice.

The HSE’s opt-out register HSE opt-out register lets you easily record your decision not to donate.

Frequently asked questions