CHANGES to organ donation in Wales are a step closer.
The National Assembly's Heath and Social Care Committee has agreed the principles of the Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill.
The Bill proposes to change the current organ donation system from one in which individuals opt in to have their organs donated after death, to one of deemed consent.
However, there would still be a role for the family to provide information on the wishes of their loved one.
In agreeing the general principles, the committee stressed that the Bill alone was unlikely to be enough to increase the organ donation rate in Wales, but would be one element in a series of initiatives, including education and raising public awareness of the issue. The Welsh Government would also be responsible for implementing these measures.
The committee's decision to back the general principles of the Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill was not unanimous, with two members voting against.
"Examining the Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill has been a difficult and challenging process," said Vaughan Gething AM, temporary chairman of the Health and Social Care Committee.
"But we have agreed, by a clear majority, that it should proceed to the next stage of the legislative process.
"Organisations and individuals on all sides of this delicate and at times emotive debate have made compelling points both for and against the Bill.
"But the principle objective of the Bill – the need to increase the number of organ transplantations in Wales and to save more lives - cannot be ignored, and it is the one point on which everyone is agreed.
"The Committee has significant concerns over how the issues of consent have been set out and explained. In particular, we have remaining concerns over the role and involvement of family and friends.
"We urge the Welsh Government to set out its position in a clear and consistent manner from this point forward. Without that clarity and consistency there is a real risk that there will not be public confidence in a deemed consent system. Clarity is equally important for the medical staff who will be handling these difficult situations.
"We also call on the Welsh Government to look again at its proposals for a Wales-wide publicity programme to inform the public about how the Bill will affect them."
The Bill will now be debated by the full Assembly before proceeding to stage two of the legislative process where it will be considered in further detail and Assembly Members will be able to submit proposed amendments for consideration.
