Wales today celebrates the 10th anniversary of its pioneering organ donation law, which made it the first part of the UK to introduce deemed consent – a radical change that has helped save hundreds of lives.
Under the Welsh system, introduced on 1 December 2015, it is assumed that a person wishes to donate their organs after death unless they have opted out during their lifetime. Families are always consulted and are more likely to support donation if they know it reflects their loved one’s wishes.
Since the law came into force:
- More than 2,000 organs have been donated in Wales
- 640 organs were donated under deemed consent from 198 deceased donors, with 550 successfully transplanted
Professor Isabel Oliver, Wales’ Chief Medical Officer, commented:
“Wales was the first country in the UK to introduce deemed consent. This important legislation has saved or changed hundreds of lives.
“But changing the law alone is not enough and to save even more people’s lives, it is really important that we all register our organ donation decision – whether they are opting in or out.
“You can do this either via the NHS Wales App or online and it also helps to speak to our loved ones about our decision.
“This gives families certainty about your decision and helps our clinicians save more lives.
“Thank you very much everyone who has already registered their decision. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who have donated organs to help others.”
The legislation has significantly increased the number of potential organ donors, and the rest of the UK has since followed Wales’ lead by introducing similar laws.
Health leaders say the change has transformed organ donation in Wales, giving hope to patients waiting for transplants and setting a benchmark for progressive healthcare policy.
Image credit: iStock
