Bill 84 explained in plain English

Bill 84 changes Ontario's organ and tissue donation rules from a system requiring written consent to one where donation is allowed by default unless a person objects or consents is needed for those under 16.

Bill 84, called the Peter Kormos Memorial Act (Saving Organs to Save Lives), 2023, changes how Ontario handles the removal and use of organs and tissue from deceased people for transplants, medical education, and research. Currently, Ontario's Gift of Life Act requires someone to give written permission (consent) before their tissue can be used after death. Bill 84 removes this requirement. Instead, starting when the bill receives Royal Assent, tissue from a deceased person may be removed and used unless: 1. The person objected to this before or during their last illness, OR 2. It is a child under 16 years old and their parent or guardian did not consent. For adults (16 and older), people can object to tissue removal at any time before they die or during their last illness. They can object in writing (signed), orally in front of two witnesses, or by email or recorded message. They must tell a doctor or Ontario Health about their objection. For children under 16, parents or guardians must consent to tissue removal before the child dies. They tell a doctor or Ontario Health about this consent. If someone dies and never said whether they object or consent, certain family members can object on their behalf (spouse first, then children, then parents, then siblings, then other close relatives). These substitute decision-makers cannot object if they believe the deceased person would not have wanted them to. Hospitals and health facilities must notify Ontario Health when a patient dies or when death is likely. Ontario Health will decide whether to ask the patient or substitute decision-maker about their wishes regarding tissue donation. The bill also creates a registry (a record) where Ontario Health tracks who has objected to tissue removal or consented to it for a child under 16. The registry notes if the objection or consent applies to all tissue or only to specific parts. The Connecting Care Act, 2019 is updated to say that Ontario Health must plan, coordinate, and support tissue removal, donation, and transplantation activities, and must maintain this registry.