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NKF asks Police and Crown Prosecution Service to rescind decision to prosecute Ambulance Driver carrying Transplant organ (Press Release issued 1 June 2003)

The National Kidney Federation, like the rest of the country, is appalled by the conduct of Lincolnshire Police and believe that the prosecution of an ambulance driver engaged in the saving of life is misguided and petty. We call upon the Lincolnshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to rescind the decision to prosecute.

As we understand the situation, the ambulance driver was trying to get an organ (a liver) from one location to another as fast as possible in order that a life saving Transplant operation could take place - that is his job, and all those in need of a Transplant are grateful to him. We find it incomprehensible that the Police service have taken this action, after all the definition of a Policeman’s duty includes “the protection of life and property”. When did the Police decide to abandon this prime directive, which all Constables learn in their basic training?

The National Kidney Federation represents 34,000 patients whose kidneys will not support life without medical intervention. Of those 34,000 patients only 1,600 will get the chance of a transplanted Kidney in any year period. Can you imagine how kidney patients now feel, knowing that if this rare and precious organ that might save their life has to pass through Lincolnshire, then the journey may take too long for the organ to survive.

We say - shame on you Lincolnshire Police, you are there to help the community and to save lives - otherwise the community would be better off without you.

Gordon Nicholas
Chairman
National Kidney Federation (UK)

UPDATE - On 17 October 2003 the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that they will not be pressing charges against the Ambulance driver (mentioned above) as they consider it is not be in the public interest.