The British Humanist Association (BHA) has today renewed its call for a change in the law from an ‘opt in’ to an ‘opt out’ system of organ donation, following stalled progress on the matter in the Welsh Assembly.
In July 2010, Welsh, Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones that his government would seek a ‘legislative competence order’ on organ donation, so that the so-called soft opt-out system can be implemented in Wales.
On Monday, the order that would give power to the Assembly to decide on whether to move across from an ‘opt in’ to a ‘presumed consent’ system, however it has been held up at the last minute following questions as to whether organ donation is a human rights issue, not a health issue. Issues of human rights are not devolved to the Assembly; hence the Assembly would not be able to ask for this power.
Currently the UK operates an ‘opt in’ organ donor scheme where people have to register independently with the organ donor register if they want to have their organs donated after they die. The BHA supports the British Medical Association’s suggested ‘soft’ system of ‘presumed consent’, whereby organ donation (for those over the age of 16) is the default position, but where when someone dies and has not opted out, relatives are told this and are asked if they are aware of any unregistered objection.
BHA Head of Public Affairs Naomi Phillips commented, ‘There is a desperate need to increase the number of organs available for transplantation throughout the United Kingdom. If the evidence suggests that a change to a system of ‘presumed consent’ is likely to do this, then we would support its implementation.
‘Most of us would not object to our body parts and organs being donated and used for good ends after we die. The soft system of presumed consent which is being proposed in Wales and is endorsed by the British Medical Association and others not only allows for opting out of the organ donation register, but also removes the burden from relatives of having to guess at the wishes of the deceased, and thus hopefully resolves any potential violation of people’s human rights.’
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Read more about the BHA’s work and position on organ donation.
Join the Organ Donation Register.
For further comment or information, contact Naomi Phillips at naomi@humanists.uk or 020 7079 3585. The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing and supporting the non-religious and campaigning for an end to religious privilege and discrimination based on religion or belief. The BHA contributes to debate on a wide range of ethical issues from stem cell research to sex education, and acts as a unique watchdog and lobbying organisation.