The Minister for Health and Social Services, Lesley Griffiths, is urging the Welsh public to make their mark before the organ donation consultation closes.
At the end of last year, the Welsh Government asked for views on the way people give consent to organ donation after death. The consultation proposed a change to the current system, moving towards a soft opt-out approach. This means that unless someone registers a wish not to be a donor, they will be treated as though they have no objection. However, it is important to emphasise that families will be involved in the decision to donate after death.
The consultation period closes on January 31.
Since the launch of the consultation in November, there has been some high profile support for the proposed system. The most notable backing came from business tycoon Sir Richard Branson, who held a telephone conversation with the Health Minister about the Welsh Government’s plans.
Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said: “I was delighted to hear Sir Richard Branson was encouraging Governments in the UK to look at the current approach to organ donation. The fact he was advocating what we in Wales are proposing is even more heartening.
“There are still two weeks to go before the consultation closes and I want as many people to be part of this process as possible. If you have not done so already, let us know what you think of these proposals.”
After the consultation closes, the responses will be analysed and a report into the findings published. A draft Bill will be drawn up and set before the National Assembly for Wales. The law could be in place by 2013 and operational by 2015, allowing two years for a campaign informing the Welsh public of the new changes, and how to opt-out if they feel strongly about it.
The Minister added: “This is an exciting time. We are making Welsh history and all who make their opinions known in this consultation are part of that history. However we must not to lose sight of the real reason we are doing this. We want to improve the lives of the hundreds of people on the transplant waiting list in Wales and throughout Britain. As well as transforming lives, transplantation is one of the most cost effective treatments and we need to do everything we can to increase the number of organs available.”