Opt for Life Cymru is an organised group wishing to change legislation in Wales to provide more organ donation to patients waiting for a transplant.

BBC POLL SHOWS CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR OPT OUT

An annual BBC poll looking at the attitudes of the people of Wales on a wide range of issues facing the nation has shown that support for Opt Out organ donation remains high.

The report which asked if the Welsh public were in favour or against “a law that presumes consent for organ donation” found that 63% were supportive, with only 31% opposed to the change in legislation.

Roy J Thomas, Chair of Kidney Wales Foundation said:

“It is heartening to see the BBC Poll results and that the people of Wales are in favour of progressive change in the law. This will follow the lead of other European countries. The support shows that we have a different attitude and a culture of selflessness and a concern for those who agonisingly await a transplant .The whole of the UK should now follow this lead.”

Support is very high amongst women at 67% and with the younger generation with 69% of 18 to 34 year olds supporting a change. However, backing for Opt Out is lower amongst men and those over 65 years old at 59% and 58% respectively. As regards those against Roy J Thomas added:

“We are aware that those against need to be persuaded, we can only point them to the fact that 3 people die every day in the UK waiting and one person dies every week in Wales. This position needs to change and so does the culture of giving and the NHS systems on organ donation. Life is precious and being on a waiting list is very cruel. Why would anyone want to see this position continue? Clearly from the Poll, certain age groups fear change and in some cases death but more so those waiting for a transplant. This BBC Poll is evidence of the momentum for change in Wales on organ donation.”

NOTES

The BBC Poll can be viewed online here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/29_2_12_bbcwalespoll.pdf

Other statistics to note are that Ceredigion, Monmouthshire and Gwynedd have the highest support for Opt Out at 84%, 73% and 70% respectively.

Kidney Wales Foundation welcomes the Welsh Government’s proactive measures to save lives and fully support its plans to change the law on organ donation by introducing a system of ‘soft opt-out’ in Wales.

Kidney Wales believes that under system of Opt Out, Welsh residents should be presumed to be organ donors on death unless:

They have joined an Opt Out Register
They cannot be identified
The person’s place of residence cannot be identified
The wishes of the deceased can be proven contrary after relatives have been contacted
Immediate relatives object.

Under ‘soft’ opt out there should be no compulsion. Kidney Wales believes that a register in Wales of only those persons who have objected (Option C, paragraph 56 of the Welsh Government White Paper on Organ and Tissue Donation) will ensure that those who object can be assured that their views are formally recorded.