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Wales asked if it wants automatic organ transplants 22/10/2008
The people of Wales are to be asked if they are in favour of automatically giving the organs of dead people to living patients unless the donor has forbidden this beforehand.
Because of a shortage of donors, 150 people have died in Wales in the last five years waiting for a transplant.
Around 500 people in Wales are now waiting for transplants, but with a desperate shortage of donors many face the reality of having to wait years and the possibility they may die while waiting.
Dates for a series of debates on whether Wales should become the first UK country to introduce a system of presumed consent were announced today.
Health Minister Edwina Hart said the purpose of the debates was to gauge views on whether the Assembly Government should seek a legislative change in order to increase the number of organ donors.
Edwina Hart said: "Last month, I rejected the recommendation from the National Assembly's Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee that Wales should not pursue a legislative change at this time, because I did not believe that the Committee's report adequately reflected the evidence it received in relation to presumed consent.
"However, I recognise that any changes to legislation would require further wide-ranging consultation and testing of public opinion as this is a sensitive and emotive issue.
"That's why I'm announcing this series of debates and publishing a discussion paper for those that are unable to attend but would still wish to comment.
"Once there is clear understanding of public opinion in Wales on the issue of presumed consent, the Assembly Government will consider the need for a legislative change.
"The debates and discussion paper will examine the public's view of a range of systems such as hard and soft presumed consent and mandated choice."
The public will also be asked whether certain organs should be excluded from any new system.
To register interest in attending the debates, people should contact Gwenllian Stifin at the Board of Community Health Councils on 0845 644 7814 or enquiries@waleschc.org.uk
The discussion paper can be obtained from Friday at http://www.wales.gov.uk/health which includes a link to a site where people can indicate their preferred system for organ donation.
A discussion document will also be issued and published on-line by the Assembly Government this Friday to invite wider comment from the public. Respondents will be able to use a website to electronically indicate their preference of different systems of organ donation consent.
Telephone interviews with a representative sample of the population will also be carried out.
The Community Health Councils in Wales are inviting members of the public to attend the debates. Those interested in attending are being asked to register rather than just turn up to ensure a broad representative sample of the population attends each debate.
Dates, times and locations for the public debates are:
Cardiff . Monday 27 October, Taff Conference Centre, Sophia Gardens, Welsh Institute of Sport, from 6:15 pm 9:00 pm;
Brecon . Tuesday 28 October, Bishop Meadow Hotel, Brecon, from 12:00pm 3:00 pm;
Haverfordwest . Wednesday 29 October, Nant-y-Ffin Hotel, Llandissilio, from 10:00 am 1:00 pm;
Caernarfon . Friday 31 October, Siambr Dafydd Orwig, Gwynedd Council, from 1:00 pm 4:00 pm;
Aberystwyth . Monday 3 November, Parc Lodge Hotel, Parc y Llun, from 7:00 pm 10:00 pm;
Wrexham . Tuesday 4 November, Nick Whitehead Theatre, Main Foyer, Glyndwr University, from 6:30 pm 9:00 pm;
Newtown . Thursday 6 November, Ladywell House, Newtown, from 10:00 am
1:00 pm; and,
Anglesey . Thursday 13 November, Main Chamber at YMCC offices, Llangefni, from 6:00 pm 9:00 pm.
To register interest in attending the debates, people should contact Gwenllian Stifin at the Board of Community Health Councils on 0845 644 7814 or enquiries@waleschc.org.uk
The discussion paper can be obtained from Friday at the link below (http://www.wales.gov.uk/health) which includes a link to a site where people can indicate their preferred system for organ donation.
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