A select committee has rejected the idea of an organ donor register where people could state whether or not they want to have their organs donated.

The Health Select Committee has recommended that the Human Tissue Amendment Bill from National's health spokeswoman, Jackie Blue, not be passed.

It considered the bill together with the Government's Human Tissue Bill, which takes a broader approach to how human tissue is collected and used.

The committee says it considers a register would be unnecessary, but it has suggested an amendment to the Government's bill that would allow a register be set up in the future.

Dr Blue says the committee seems to prefer a public relations campaign, but that would be a waste of money without a register to sign up to.

The campaign group, Givelife, says it is stunned at the committee's decision.

Spokesperson Andy Tookey says the Ministry of Health has convinced committee members that registers have not worked in countries such as Britain. But he says registers have worked in the United States.

Courtesy of Radio New Zealand