Legislation to introduce a soft opt-out organ donation system in Wales has been formally presented to the National Assembly of Wales.
The Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill was laid before the Assembly on Monday. This begins the formal process of its consideration by Assembly Members.
If the bill became law, a person would have to opt out of the donor system if they did not want their organs passed on in the event of their death. At the moment, people opt in to the system by joining the national Organ Donor Register.
To coincide with the laying of the Bill, the Welsh Government also launched a publicity campaign called Heart to Heart, which encourages people to share their organ donation wishes with their families.
Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said: “Organ donation saves and improves lives. We are delivering on our commitment, supported by the public, to introduce an opt-out system of organ donation.
“The role of the family is critical in informing the final decision on what happens to their relative’s organs. The wishes of the deceased are paramount and the vast majority of the people of Wales do expect their wishes to be what really counts. For that reason, as is the case now, the family has no legal right to veto but, in practice, a clinician would never add to their distress by insisting on donation.
“Evidence shows the main reason families refuse to agree to organ donation they don’t know what their loved one felt about organ donation. We are therefore launching the ‘Heart to Heart’ campaign to encourage people to share their wishes with those around them. Under a system of deemed consent, families have the reassurance that their loved ones could have opted out of organ donation during their lifetime.
“We know a soft opt-out system alone won’t increase donation rates. Evidence from other countries shows the health service infrastructure has to be right to make it work. We are confident in Wales we now have a strong infrastructure for organ donation, and changing the legislation is the best way to help those 379 people in Wales waiting for a transplant.”