King Edward VII Memorial Hospital begins an education blitz today to warn members of the public that they will have to indicate on their drivers licence if they want to donate their organs after they die.

From April 17, every person given a new licence or renewing an existing licence will have to say if they want their organs to be donated. The move will bring Bermuda into line with Britain, the US and most European countries where this has happened for years. The hospital hopes this will result in more organs being donated which could save lives.

Glenda Daniels, the unit co-ordinator of the KEMH intensive care unit, hopes it will lead to less trauma and confusion for bereaved families faced with the prospect of organ donations.

She said drivers who state they want their organs to be used to help others will be obliged to discuss this with their families.

If they do not, however, their families will still have the right to veto any organ donations.

Mrs Daniels said: "If the organ donor has not discussed it with the family it can become a big issue so we want to alert the public this month.'' The new plan will allow both family and doctors to know at a glance the deceased's wishes.

KEMH is partnered with the New England Donor Bank in the US and 20 locals have made donations under it. A recent case involved the tragic death of 21-year-old equestrian Jason Jones.

Jason's mother said at the time that her decision was motivated out of a strong view that "his organs might let others live''.