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- Page navigation anchor for Organ donation in EnglandOrgan donation in EnglandThere are two editorials on organ donation in the current February issue on the proposal to introduce an opt-out scheme in England. It is very strange that, whilst one of editorials spent over a column on analysing the Spanish experience, neither editorial mentioned the Welsh experience. As of 1st December 2015, the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act came into full effect, introducing a presumed consent system, in which every person ordinarily living in Wales voluntarily for longer than 12 months, aged 18 or over who has the required mental capacity is deemed to have given their consent to organ donation, unless they have specifically registered a decision either on the Organ Donation Register or verbally told family or friends.The Welsh Government carried out a public awareness campaign and commissioned surveys of the public, specialist nurses and NHS staff which were carried out at regular intervals since 2012. The formal evaluation, commissioned by the Welsh Government in 20141, has now reported, with the following main findings:• Awareness of and support for the soft opt-out system of organ donation in Wales is high among the general public and NHS staff, although there has been a recent drop in awareness levels among the general public suggesting that publicity of the law needs to be maintained.Show More
• More clarity around the role of the family in the organ donation proc...Competing Interests: I was one of the researchers working on the evaluation of the Welsh opt-out system.