Missed opportunity for the Assembly to save so many lives - WalesOnline

Missed opportunity for the Assembly to save so many lives - WalesOnline

Missed opportunity for the Assembly to save so many lives
Aug 4 2008 by Richard Lewis BMA Wales Western Mail

THE National Assembly’s health committee last week rejected the idea of introducing presumed consent for organ donation in the near future.

Its members voted against a proposal to apply for a Legislative Competence Order, which would give the Assembly the power to bring in such a system in Wales, by six votes to three.

And the reason they gave for doing so? They do not believe that it is currently the most urgent priority and would act as a “distraction”.

So does that mean missing out on the chance to potentially save more lives is not a priority?

The committee also recommended that if any presumed consent system were to be introduced in the UK, it should be the “soft” version, where loved ones are consulted and their views taken into account.

This is something BMA Wales wholeheartedly supports and we cannot see why this should not have been an option for consideration.