The organs of people killed in road accidents and such like are not viable because of the time lapse between death and and being able to harvest them they have become ischeamic and such like because of depravation of oxygen. So at the minute the only organs that can be harvested are from people who have died whilst in hospital on life support or who have had a an accident and being taken to hospital before death.
Two independant consultants have to proclaim that a person is braindead before a machine can be turned off. This is the time when the co ordinators have to ask families re donorship. I can only imagine the feeling going through their heads at this time pls God it will never be a situation i will ever be in …….but this where the card and register stating the donors wishes are brought to light.
Hence the necessity of letting your family know of your wishes. This would work the same way in the *opt out* system. The donors wishes would be known thus saving valuable time re the organ and indeed another episode of emotional stress for the family at the time