WALES may go it alone BIG ETHICAL DEBATE - WalesOnline

Wales organ transplants row - WalesOnline

Roy J Thomas, chairman of the Kidney Wales Foundation and the Donate Wales campaign, said: “It is not a surprise to see that the donor task force in England has rejected the introduction of presumed consent there. We have been aware that the task force has been against a law change for some time.

“Our understanding is that the English task force has advised English politicians about image. The task force has taken into account the image of Whitehall health ministers and not the evidence before it. This is a big moral debate. If government is truly looking at a selfless society, now is the chance. Patients waiting are dying.”

Organ donation is a non-devolved issue and although no decision has been made about presumed consent in Wales, Health Minister Edwina Hart has not ruled out seeking a legislative competence order on the issue.

A series of debates are being held around Wales to gauge public opinion towards such a system.