Opt-out on cards for organ donation in Wales

Opt-out on cards for organ donation in Wales

May 11 2009 Madeleine Brindley, WalesOnline

WALES will today take another step closer to becoming the first country in the UK to change the law on organ donation.

Health Minister Edwina Hart has launched a consultation on proposals to introduce an opt-out system in Wales.

Under such a system, which is in use in Belgium and Spain, people who do not want to be considered as organ donors would have to register their decision to opt out.

But relatives would still be consulted about organ donation at the time of death.

The organ donation system currently relies on people registering as potential donors during their lifetime.

Opt-out systems have been credited with increasing the number of organs which are available for transplant.

There are currently more than 500 patients in Wales waiting for an organ transplant. The majority are waiting for a kidney.

The 12-week consultation, which ends on August 3, will ask whether Wales should change the law on organ donation and follows a major public debate between October and January.

In a letter launching the formal consultation Mrs Hart said: “The public debate confirmed that there is an appetite for change to the organ donation consent system with the feedback suggesting a preference for a soft opt-out system.

“The aim of this further consultation exercise is to find out if the Assembly Government should now move forward and propose legislative change.”

Mrs Hart has also commissioned officials to advise the Assembly Government about what legislative options are available to Wales if it decides to go down this route.