When 'Opting Out' makes a huge difference

This happened a few years ago (pre-COVID times) when I was traveling on work. It was my last evening in that city. I walked back into the hotel room after a long day at work. I was happy to be back in my temporary abode for just one more night. The room service at the hotel, like the previous few days, was impeccable. And as I was admiring their handiwork, I noticed a small card tucked under the neatly folded bed linen. It was a UNICEF card with two happy kids beaming on its cover and a catchy caption that read 'Your $1 can change a child's life.' The card very succinctly highlighted how 100 million children miss out on the chance to go to school. It went to add how $1 can buy a notebook and how it can help a child to read and write and in turn have a chance for a better future. Then, what really caught my eye was that to support UNICEF's work, an extra US$1 was already being added to my hotel bill. If I agreed to it, I need not do anything but if I did not prefer to donate then I just had to inform the hotel service desk at the time of checking out.

And then the card signed off saying...."$1 by $1, child by child. YOU can change the world."

I was an 'opt in' by default. If I didn't agree then I would have to opt-out.

Very smart, I must say. Now tell me, who would mind a $1 being added to their hotel bill for a social cause?

Absolutely no one, right!

Another example of opt-out versus opt-in policy is being practiced in Spain for many years for a noble cause close to my heart - Organ donation.

Spain has legislation that acknowledges the presumed consent of the deceased donor?(although the family's permission is compulsory),?combined with highly qualified transplant coordinators who are permanently on call, that has added to high levels of legitimate organ transplants.

This means every Spaniard is considered as an 'opt in' case for organ donation unless his family thinks otherwise at the time of his/her death.

And guess what!

Spain has a whopping rate of 46.91 donations per million (2019) and apparently the best organ donation rate in the world. In India, the rate is 0.01 per million.

A huge difference, right!

It's not compulsory, it’s still voluntary and yet so impacting due to an opt-out versus opt-in policy being practiced in Spain. Tell me, how many would not want to donate their organs if given a choice.

So many lives thus saved, healed, and made healthier.

For such noble social causes isn't that the best policy to follow for any country. The UNICEF promotion and Spain's organ donation policy are a case in point as to how an 'opt-out versus opt-in policy' can be put to brilliant effect and all for a good cause!

Seriously, it has the potential to make a huge difference!

It makes me think. What other great causes, initiatives can such an opt-out versus opt-in policy be put in action for the betterment of an individual (or customer), society, nation, or even the world.

Pic Source: https://ebusinessinstitute.com/glossary/opt-in-opt-out/

Data Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_donation

https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/health/india-needs-more-organ-donations-as-only-0-01-indians-have-given-consent-to-donate-their-organs-after-death/2300173/