A group of Jewish doctors is hoping a new survey will help medics to better understand the views and misconceptions about organ donation among British Jewry.

It will be the second poll undertaken by the Jewish Organ Donor Association (Joda), an organisation of medical professionals and marketing experts “dedicated to saving lives by increasing awareness of organ donation within a Jewish framework”.

As the survey explains, last May, “the law on organ donation in England changed to opt-out. This means that all adults in England are considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they have recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.”

Joda co-founder Dr Marc Wittenberg, a consultant anaesthetist at London’s Royal Free Hospital, said the results would shape a bigger awareness campaign later this year.

He noted that because of Covid, “people had other things on their mind” at the time of the law change.

“The NHS are really excited by the opportunity to work with us. They know that in order to reach minority communities like ours, they need to work with organisations [who] know the community from the inside.”

Joda’s last survey found that Jews were more likely to carry an organ donor card than the general population. But there was “lots of confusion in the community”.

A “significant number” believed someone couldn’t be buried in a Jewish cemetery if their organs had been donated.

Dr Wittenberg was also keen to spread awareness of the “faith declaration”, a box someone can tick to request a religious leader is consulted about the process.

Office of the Chief Rabbi has set up a dedicated hotline for this purpose.

He encouraged as many people as possible to voice their opinion in order to ensure British Jewry “can be part of the conversation and set a good example for the rest of the community”.

Joda has received £10,000 from NHS Blood and Transplant’s Community Investment Scheme.

It is one of 35 community projects in England to have received a share of £600,000 as part of the government’s commitment to tackle health inequalities in black, Asian and minority communities.

Anyone wishing to participate in JODA's survey can do so here.