Mrs Hart said an in-depth consultation with the public would be carried out to gauge views on whether the Welsh Assembly Government should seek a legislative change.

Events will be held across Wales in the next few months and a discussion document will also be issued by the Assembly Government to invite wider comment from the public.

Because of a shortage of donors, 150 people have died in Wales in the last five years waiting for a transplant.

Edwina Hart said:

Around 470 people in Wales are currently waiting for an organ transplant, but with a desperate shortage of donors many face the reality of having to wait years and the possibility they may even die while waiting.

Although the Assembly Government is already funding campaigns to increase the number of donors, a shortage of organs still remains so it is my belief that we should examine more closely the issue of introducing a system presumed consent.

Last week, I rejected the recommendation from the 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.

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.

Mrs Hart added:

Regardless of whether we go down the route of introducing a system of presumed consent, we are committed to encouraging more people to become organ donors.

That’s why we have funded the charity-led Tell a Loved One campaign which has been hugely successful in increasing the numbers of Welsh residents joining the Organ Donor Register.

We are also committed to increasing capacity in transplant services, as shown by our investment in a new renal transplant facility in South Wales.

I have also announced a Wales Organ Donation Implementation Group, to oversee the recent recommendations from the UK Organ Donation Taskforce.

Related Links

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/health/?lang=en