Eleanor Burnham

North Wales AM Opts for Life Saving Organ Donation Law

Following the news that the Welsh Government is seeking powers to bring in an opt out system of organ donation in Wales, Eleanor Burnham, welsh Liberal Democrat

AM for North Wales has added her support to the Opt For Life campaign. The campaign calls for a change to UK legislation which will ensure more organs are available for those waiting for a transplant.

In the UK 10,000 people are currently waiting for a transplant. With an aging population, this number is growing year on year. This is leading to a chronic shortage of organs for transplant. The UK has one of the worst rates of organ donation in Europe, with many other countries having already shifted towards systems of presumed consent.

The opt-out scheme would mean that instead of people adding their names to a register if they wanted to donate an organ, they would register if they did not want to donate. This reflects the desires of an overwhelming majority of the population.

Eleanor Burnham AM has signed up to the campaign's wall of support calling for the introduction of a UK-wide opt out organ donation system.

There is growing cross-party support for a change in the law and pressure for urgent action is mounting. With two thirds of the British public supporting the introduction of an opt out system, this will be a popular change to the law that will save lives.

Eleanor Burnham commented: "In Wales there are nearly 500 patients currently waiting for a new life and transplant. Shockingly, a person dies every 11 days whilst waiting for a transplant in Wales. Research shows that while 90% of the British public are in favour of donating organs after their death, just 28% have signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

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"The aim of this campaign is very clear: change the law to save lives. Wales has taken the first step and we want the rest of the UK to follow.

"It is important to emphasise that under a 'soft' opt out system there is no compulsion. No one donates organs unless they want to do so. But for those patients desperately waiting for an organ transplant a move to opt out will give them an opportunity for life. I'm supporting this campaign and I hope that you will join me by signing up at www.optforlife.org "

Roy J. Thomas, Chairman of Kidney Wales added:

"The Welsh Assembly Government decision to seek powers on an opt out organ donation system has broken new ground in the UK. We know that this system will save lives and are now challenging the rest of the UK to follow suit.

"A system of presumed consent increases the rate of organ donation by up to 25-30% and quite simply saves lives. The introduction of a 'soft' opt out system would be a hugely significant step forwards, without needing major changes to practice. It would respect both the wishes of potential donors and the sensitivities of their families. International experience backs this up, When Belgium introduced an opt out system just 2% of the population opted out and donation rates rose by 55% in 5 years."

The BMA in Wales has welcomed moving to a system of 'soft' presumed consent, claiming a change in the law would "at a single stroke, save lives whilst still giving the individual the right to have a choice. People can add their support to the opt out campaign at www.optforlife.org "

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Different systems of presumed consent for organ donation have already been introduced in Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy and Norway saving thousands of lives each year. When Belgium introduced the opt out system in 1986 its national rate of organ donation rose by 55% within five years. Belgians can take themselves off the Register at their local town hall, but only 2% have done so since the law was introduced. In Spain, where a similar system of opt-out exists, there are 35 donors per million population compared to just 12 in the UK. It is the only country that has witnessed a year on year increase in organ donation for the last ten years.

The Welsh Assembly Government, supported by Kidney Wales is proposing to introduce legislation to introduce a system of "soft" Opt Out, in which the people would be presumed to be organ donors after death unless :

they have opted out

they cannot be identified

their place of residence cannot be identified

the wishes of the deceased can be proven to be contrary after relatives have been contacted

Immediate relatives object.

Further information on the campaign can be found here: www.optforlife.org