Nova Scotia’s Presumed Consent Organ Donation Law Now in Effect

Dr. Stephen Beed, medical director of Nova Scotia's organ and tissue donation program, at the Halifax Infirmary in Halifax on Jan. 14, 2021. Nova Scotia is the first province in the country to implement presumed consent for human organ and tissue donation. Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press

HALIFAX—Nova Scotia is now the first jurisdiction in North America to implement presumed consent around organ donation, a move health officials believe could see a significant rise in the number of donors over the next few years.

Legislation passed in April 2019 finally took effect Monday following more than 18 months of work to ensure provincial systems were equipped to handle the change.