Wales Organ Donations Rise In Year After Consent Law

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-38144547

"The Welsh Government says more lives have been saved since Wales became the first country in the UK to introduced a deemed consent system"

I seem to recall a long debate about this here on AB, but if more lives are being saved, then I can't see this as being anything other than a success.

[New Judge]

It depends whether, to achieve this success, you agree to people's dead bodies being plundered for spare parts without their consent. "Deemed consent" is no consent at all.

[Sqad]

NJ......"Plunder?"....I prefer the word "harvest"...;-)
I agree though....both amount to the same thing.

[Mamyalynne]

I can see the sense in this with so many waiting for Transplants and opting out of the transplant list is very simple and presumably was made clear to all Welsh Citizens when the system came in.

[douglas9401]

I really don't see the problem. In the final analysis it's good use of something that will otherwise quickly become landfill.

[ToraToraTora]

I don't see how Wales can have different laws on this? What about visitors? how does that work?

[ToraToraTora]

the headline is misleading anyway, donations have not increased, organ theft has.

[Mamyalynne]

Re visitors etc

http://organdonationwales.org/Organ-Donation-is-changing-in-Wales/Who-will-the-system-change-apply-to/?lang=en

[ToraToraTora]

thanks Mamy, it sounds like it'll take a week to find out if you are a deemed consenter anyway!

[anneasquith]

Well done Wales for passing this law .

[youngmafbog]

Sounds a good thing.

In addition those that do not wish to donate should be at end of the queue should they require a transplant.

[mikey4444]

The whole idea of this change of law and practise, was to ensure that more organs would be available for transplant.

As this now appears to be the case, than, as Anne says....well done to Wales !

[sunny-dave]

"I agree with youngmafbog"

But - if people are unhappy with 'presumed consent', would they be happy with a policy of 'required decision'?

Under this everyone (and I mean absolutely everyone with the mental capacity to do so) would be required to answer a yes/no question at age 18 (or on becoming a UK citizen) which would be along the lines of :

"Do you consent to donating your organs, remembering that refusing to do so may result in you being further down any list for receipt of organs?"

Refusing to answer the question would be a presumed 'no' - but result in absolute removal of any chance of receiving an organ.

We could play 'catch-up' with the existing population of over-18s as quickly as possible.

[mikey4444]

DB....yes you can !

According to the official figures, donations have increased, and consequently, lives have been saved.

[New Judge]

Do the "donations" that have increased include those where organs have been taken via the "deemed consent" system, Mikey? If so, it is very difficult - if not impossible - to differentiate between organs obtained from "proper" donations and those obtained automatically under the new law. If that is indeed the case it is blindingly obvious that donations will increase.

"Refusing to answer the question would be a presumed 'no' - but result in absolute removal of any chance of receiving an organ."

So people who do not donate blood should be denied blood transfusions. dave?

[sunny-dave]

Yes, NJ - unless there is a legitimate reason for their refusal, let them pay the economic price for imported blood.

[sunny-dave]

I'm all for altruism - indeed I have never wanted (and would refuse) any payment for blood and would want all my organs to be used after death.

But I don't see why freeloaders should profit from my donations - whether their objection is through squeamishness or religion or culture or any other reason.

[mikey4444]

Sunnydave....I am tending to agree with you on this point, although I would probably stop short of denying people blood.

Lives are being saved, and that is what counts.

[sunny-dave]

I wouldn't deny anyone - just (when they have recovered) offer them the choice of paying the economic cost or going on the blood donor register - I suppose they could still just not attend when the vampires called, but it would concentrate a few minds I think.