Understand
Man who suffered cardiac arrest at 12 urges people to discuss organ donation
Overview
Soban Saqib, a 21-year-old from Surrey who suffered a cardiac arrest at age 12 due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is urging people to discuss organ donation with their families. He is currently awaiting a life-saving heart transplant after being told his condition has reached end-stage heart failure. NHS Blood and Transplant data shows that hundreds of potential donations fail to go ahead because families are unaware of their relatives' wishes, while over 8,700 people in the UK remain on the transplant waiting list.
Key points
- Soban Saqib had a cardiac arrest at age 12 and is now waiting for a heart transplant due to end-stage heart failure from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- NHS Blood and Transplant reports that over 700 potential donations did not proceed between April 2021 and March 2026 because families did not know their loved ones' wishes.
- Although the UK operates an opt-out organ donation system, families are still consulted and need to be aware of their relatives' decisions.
- Venice Coleman, whose husband Dave died while waiting for a heart transplant in 2021, is also campaigning for people to discuss organ donation.
- NHSBT notes that organ donation rates have fallen 9% compared to last year, while more than 8,700 people are waiting for life-saving transplants in the UK.