Just time, if you are quick

The Welsh Government's Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill is due to have its
Stage 3 debate on final amendments on July 2nd.

The closing date for Government amendments is the 21st June but that for amendments from Assembly members is 25th June.

While we do not yet know which amendments may be available on July 2nd,
there are several amendments that those who oppose the principle of deemed
consent may support, in good conscience, because they will ameliorate the
effects of the Bill.

Please email this letter to Suzy Davies AM (before close of play June 25th):

Dear Ms. Davies,

                               The Welsh Government is due to discuss the Stage 3 amendments on July 2^nd. I hope that you will be willing to support amendments which may ameliorate this unnecessary Bill.

                          The donation figures published on 11^thApril 2013 showed that all the other U.K. countries had achieved the target of 50% increase in donation rates set by the U.K. Organ Donation Task Force; only Wales failed miserably, and this in spite of leading the way in earlier years. The

recommendations of the UK ODTF as to how improvement could come about were working well and Wales achieved a 49% increase in 2011/12. This year, the figures slumped to 15.6% although organ donation was widely publicised as a result of the consultations and debates on the Human Transplantation Bill. This is very disappointing when N. Ireland, for example, achieved an increase of over 80%.

                     I noted your speech in the Assembly during the debate at Stage1  and I  note that you were especially concerned that there was no family veto on the face of the Bill. Even Spain, the best country in the world for donor rates, always asks the family and never takes organs without the family’s consent; if Wales wants to follow the example of Spain, it will always ask for the family’s permission. Moreover, the First Minister, Carwyn Jones, on the 10^th May 2010 told the Observer "We have decided on soft presumed consent, where relatives can veto organ donation, because we want to make it as easy as possible," he said. "At the moment, if people are not carrying donor cards then it is presumed they didn't want to be a donor. If we presume everyone does – unless certain conditions are met–we don't want to be in a position where we are taking organs against the wishes of the family. There  is no question of that."

                 

                         I hope you will remind the First Minister of his promise. Will he keep his word and put this veto on the face of the Bill? Perhaps, Darren Millar, as Shadow Health Minister, will propose this amendment with your support.

                            Yours sincerely,

Here is her email address:           suzy.davies@wales.gov.uk

"I left my heart in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

I left my kidneys in Swansea town"......can you imagine ol' blue eyes singing this lovely ballad....no? Neither can I.

The heart of Wales!

But it is true or, at least, it is probably going to be true because the extremely sound and all knowing intellectual Welsh Assembly Government aka The Mushroom Morons, is seeking consultation on the introduction of a law to make organ donation compulsory, (after death you will be pleased to know).
 Although, nothing about the Welsh Assembly would surprise me.

After all, the Health Minister involved in this move is none other than Edwina Hart - you couldn't make it up!

Why should this worry anyone? Well, for a start it is 1984 come to life, Big Brother wants control of our key body parts; I mean, my liver, lungs and other organs are mine, specifically and unequivocally mine and no earthly body  organisation can legitimately lay claim to them.

If, after death, I wish my organs to be buried along with the rest of my mortal remains, that should be possible - but that's not going to be the case in Stalinist Wales!

Please do not misunderstand me, I am firmly in favour of organ donation, it's just that this sort of decision belongs with the individual not with the state.

But let's take a quick LOTH straw poll as to what people believe on this topic:-

Anglican Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan -
"....is concerned the law would consider peoples' organs as "assets of the state" instead of them being donated voluntarily." Good man!

The British Humanist Society - "Welcomes the move" No change there then!

Academic John Harris of Manchester University, expert on bio ethics -
 "In Spain, which admittedly has a different culture regarding medicine and medical ethics, the introduction of the opt-out donation system has meant the shortage of donors has been entirely eliminated and the country is now a net exporter of organs."
Hmm...along with Spain's other exports of dodgy Sangria and imitation castanets!

Another Academic, Edinburgh University's Alan Trench -

"The Government’s White Paper is problematic, for a number of legal and policy reasons, quite apart from the moral issues involved. There are potential issues of compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly Article 9 (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion)".

Ah! At last, someone has mentioned 'religion' - good but Human Rights and EU Law = bad!

John Smeaton of SPUC commented -
"Presuming consent isn't the same as obtaining it, so it's not really consent at all, and such an presumption effectively nationalises everyone's bodies".
Thank the Lord for a rational approach!

Paul Botto, SPUC's Information Officer for Wales wrote -

Some countries which presume consent actually get fewer organs than are obtained in this country where consent is still needed. While organ donation can be a generous act, none of us is morally required to do it and government has no right to require it of us.

Good again!

And a spokesman spokesperson for the Catholic Church in Wales said......

............................................................................................................well, we're still waiting for that one, did you see that stone move?

Perhaps the last word on the subject should be left with someone who is not afraid to speak out, not afraid to stand up to the socialist pinkos or the Tory weasels, someone who cares not for political correctness - this is what Pope Benedict had to say on the issue back in 2007 -

'Pope Benedict began his address to the conference entitled, “A Gift for Life. Considerations on Organ Donation.” by applauding the great advances of medical science in the realm of issue and organ transplants. Though these measures give hope to people who are suffering, he lamented the problem of a limited availability of organs, as evidenced “in the long waiting lists of many sick people whose only hopes of survival are linked to a minimal supply which in no way corresponds to effective need."Despite the fact that the supply of organs is limited, the Pontiff emphasized that people can only donate, “if the health and identity of the individual are never put at serious risk, and always for morally-valid and proportional reasons. Any logic of buying and selling of organs, or the adoption of discriminatory or utilitarian criteria ... is morally unacceptable,” he stressed'.
H/T to A Catholic View

There.....no arguing with that point of view!

Oh, and BTW, there is a *fifty pound note awaiting the person who can drink 3 pints of Reverend James and then pronounce the Welsh place name of -

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch -
 A Reluctant Sinner is barred from entering this competition! (as are all Welsh speakers)

* Whilst standing on their head...I am nothing if not cautious as far as money is concerned.