Wales begins 'presumed consent' policy for organ donation
December 02, 2015
New legislation that took effect on December 2 in Wales classifies all residents as potential organ donors unless they take affirmative action to object.
The “presumed consent” law reverses the “informed consent” policy that had been in effect throughout the United Kingdom. Under an “informed consent” rule, organs may be harvested only from people who have volunteered to be donors. With “presumed consent” everyone is treated as a donor unless he has registered an objection.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2296) praises organ donors, but says that donation “is not morally acceptable if the donor or his proxy has not given explicit consent.”
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