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| AMs to vote on 'presumed consent' organ donation plans | AMs to vote on 'presumed consent' organ donation plans |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Wales could become the only UK country with an opt-out organ donation system if politicians vote to change the law. | |
| The Welsh government wants to introduce a system where individuals will be presumed to have consented for their organs to be donated after death unless they have specifically objected. | |
| But opponents want families to be able to stop a donation if their relative did not express an opinion either way. | But opponents want families to be able to stop a donation if their relative did not express an opinion either way. |
| Ministers want to increase the number of donors for transplant by a quarter. | Ministers want to increase the number of donors for transplant by a quarter. |
| There has been opposition to the changes from Christian churches and from within the Muslim and Jewish communities. | There has been opposition to the changes from Christian churches and from within the Muslim and Jewish communities. |
| It would mean a change from the current opt-in system, where would-be donors have to sign a register. | It would mean a change from the current opt-in system, where would-be donors have to sign a register. |
| A statement from faith leaders and health professionals - signed by the Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan and others - calls for a so-called "soft opt-out scheme" in the Human Transplantation Bill. | A statement from faith leaders and health professionals - signed by the Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan and others - calls for a so-called "soft opt-out scheme" in the Human Transplantation Bill. |
| They say it would give deceased patients' families a say on donation if their relative had neither opted in or out. | They say it would give deceased patients' families a say on donation if their relative had neither opted in or out. |
| A joint statement says that failure to make changes to the Bill would be "inhuman, unfeeling before the suffering of relatives, and a danger to the public trust and support which are necessary for the practice of organ donation to flourish". | A joint statement says that failure to make changes to the Bill would be "inhuman, unfeeling before the suffering of relatives, and a danger to the public trust and support which are necessary for the practice of organ donation to flourish". |
| It adds: "Without this there is a real danger that the law could backfire." | It adds: "Without this there is a real danger that the law could backfire." |
| If passed by assembly members on Tuesday, the presumed consent system could come into force by 2015. | If passed by assembly members on Tuesday, the presumed consent system could come into force by 2015. |
| The Welsh government hopes legislation will lead to 15 extra donors leaving around 45 more organs for transplant each year. | The Welsh government hopes legislation will lead to 15 extra donors leaving around 45 more organs for transplant each year. |
| As currently happens, organs could go to recipients anywhere in the UK, not just in Wales. | As currently happens, organs could go to recipients anywhere in the UK, not just in Wales. |
| Of around 250 potential donors in 2011, 67 left organs. | Of around 250 potential donors in 2011, 67 left organs. |
| Health Minister Mark Drakeford told BBC Wales: "The legislation makes it absolutely clear that if you are uncomfortable with being an organ donor you have an absolute right in the simplest way possible to opt out of the system. | Health Minister Mark Drakeford told BBC Wales: "The legislation makes it absolutely clear that if you are uncomfortable with being an organ donor you have an absolute right in the simplest way possible to opt out of the system. |
| Publicise the system | Publicise the system |
| "You put your name on the organ donor register saying you don't want to be a donor and that is the end of the matter. | "You put your name on the organ donor register saying you don't want to be a donor and that is the end of the matter. |
| "There is nothing to be scared of in this legislation." | "There is nothing to be scared of in this legislation." |
| The presumed consent law would apply to over-18s who die in Wales if they have lived in Wales for more than 12 months. | |
| People will be able to sign up to the organ donor register so their wishes will be known if they die outside Wales. | People will be able to sign up to the organ donor register so their wishes will be known if they die outside Wales. |
| If the law is changed, ministers will have a duty to publicise the system and almost £8m will be spent over 10 years. | If the law is changed, ministers will have a duty to publicise the system and almost £8m will be spent over 10 years. |
| The Bill would involve transferring some powers from the UK government to Welsh ministers. | The Bill would involve transferring some powers from the UK government to Welsh ministers. |
| The Kidney Wales Foundation (KWF) has campaigned for a law change on organ donation and described the Bill as "progressive law". | The Kidney Wales Foundation (KWF) has campaigned for a law change on organ donation and described the Bill as "progressive law". |
| Roy Thomas, KWF chief executive, said: "The Welsh government has seen this Bill scrutinised properly and several detailed consultations have been undertaken with the Welsh public. | Roy Thomas, KWF chief executive, said: "The Welsh government has seen this Bill scrutinised properly and several detailed consultations have been undertaken with the Welsh public. |
| "Wales has been at the forefront of organ donation with development of the Organ Donor Register in the 1980s to having the DVLA communicate on the issue when sending out driving licences. | "Wales has been at the forefront of organ donation with development of the Organ Donor Register in the 1980s to having the DVLA communicate on the issue when sending out driving licences. |
| "This law is further progress and evidence shows it will increase donation rates." | "This law is further progress and evidence shows it will increase donation rates." |
| But Griff Evans, a 62-year-old retired electronics supervisor from mid Wales who has been on the organ donor register for about 20 years, told the BBC he would opt out if the proposed law came into effect. | But Griff Evans, a 62-year-old retired electronics supervisor from mid Wales who has been on the organ donor register for about 20 years, told the BBC he would opt out if the proposed law came into effect. |
| "This law in effect means your body becomes the property of the state. That's not on," he said. | "This law in effect means your body becomes the property of the state. That's not on," he said. |
| "I signed up to become a donor because I thought it was the right thing to do but I feel so strongly about this that it would reverse my decision." | "I signed up to become a donor because I thought it was the right thing to do but I feel so strongly about this that it would reverse my decision." |
| Shadow health minister Darren Millar AM said it was a landmark day and it was essential the issues continued to be properly debated, including increased awareness and the rights of the family. | Shadow health minister Darren Millar AM said it was a landmark day and it was essential the issues continued to be properly debated, including increased awareness and the rights of the family. |
| "Deemed consent represents a significant and controversial departure from the current system and there are a number of anxieties that must continue to be scrutinised and appropriately addressed," he said. | "Deemed consent represents a significant and controversial departure from the current system and there are a number of anxieties that must continue to be scrutinised and appropriately addressed," he said. |