Let’s hear your views on presumed consent for organ donation

Mar 10 2008 by Jonathan Morgan, Western Mail

The National Assembly’s health, wellbeing and local government committee is carrying out an inquiry into presumed consent for organ donation. Committee chairman Jonathan Morgan, looks at the issues

THERE is little doubt that transplant surgery can save lives and improve the quality of lives immeasurably for those who benefit from it. There is also a pressing shortage of donors.

The Assembly’s health, wellbeing and local government committee has decided to look into the law on the way organs are donated in Wales to see if changes can improve donation rates.

This is a sensitive subject, and the committee wants to find out the views of as many people as possible in Wales.

At present, organs are only taken from people if they “opt in” by carrying a donor card, if they are registered as a donor or if their loved ones consent.

Although most people in Wales say that they would be happy for their organs to be donated, only a minority have registered or carry cards.

Some countries operate a different system known as presumed consent or “opting out” where organs are taken unless people have previously registered an objection.

The committee will be looking at whether this system should be introduced in Wales.

Those in favour of this system say that it will help improve donation rates and thereby save and improve more lives. They say that presumed consent is actually a truer reflection of most people’s wishes than to assume, as we currently do, that they do not wish to donate.

Those against presumed consent say that there are other things we can do, such as raising people’s awareness and improving infrastructure, which could make the same or greater impact.

They say that presumed consent represents an intrusion by the state into what is a private decision.

Of course, most people who are in favour of presumed consent want to see better awareness and infrastructure as well. They tend to advocate a “soft” system of presumed consent, where the views of loved ones are taken into account and their objections respected, as opposed to the so called “hard” systems, which some countries have, where these views are given relatively little weight.

We also need to take account of moral, ethical and religious arguments. Although most major religions represented in the UK appear to have no fundamental objection to organ donation, suggestions that organs may be taken without explicit consent may cause concern for some religious traditions.

Our inquiry into this issue will try to find answers to these difficult questions. We will be taking evidence from, among others, doctors, religious leaders, lawyers and those who might benefit from transplants.

But we must ensure also that the views of ordinary members of the public are heard. Any change to the law on organ donation must be fully thought through and take account of public concerns.

We plan to hold public meetings in North and West Wales and the South Wales Valleys. Anyone who attends will have the chance to make their views known direct to the committee. We will also be carrying out a survey of public views on the issue, including an e-forum on our website and a questionnaire given to visitors to the Senedd.

If you have strong views we would like to hear them.

Come along to one of the meetings or let me know your views by writing to me at the Senedd in Cardiff, or email me at health.wellbeing.localgovt.comm@wales.gsi.gov.uk.