Assembly Committee to quiz Minister on presumed consent for organ donation.

Published 17/06/2008   |   Last Updated 14/07/2014

Assembly Committee to quiz Minister on presumed consent for organ donation.

The Assembly’s Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee will take evidence for its inquiry into presumed consent for organ donation from Health and Social Services Minister Edwina Hart AM at its next meeting on Thursday June 19th.

The Committee will also take evidence from Mr Abdul Hammad, Director of the Nephrology & Transplant Directorate, Royal Liverpool Hospital via video link and from Professor John Saunders who will give evidence on an alternative system of mandated choice.  

Jonathan Morgan AM, Chair of the Committee said. “I expect all our witnesses to contribute a great deal of knowledge and experience to the debate on presumed consent for organ donation during the meeting. However I am particularly interested to hear the Minister’s views on the issue and to learn about the Welsh government’s plans for the future of organ donation in Wales. I hope the committee’s inquiry will help inform any decision the government makes in relation to seeking powers to change the current system in operation in Wales.”

The meeting takes place in Committee Room 3, Senedd, on Thursday June 19th at 1.00pm.  

Further information about the Committee

Notes to editors:

1. At present, organs are only taken from people who have died if they have registered as a donor with the NHS Organ Donor Register or carry a card and if their loved ones have no objections.

2. In some countries a different system operates. When people die their organs can be taken automatically unless they have previously registered an objection. This system is called presumed consent.