Should your organs be donated automatically when you die or should doctors need to be given the green light? That was the question being discussed at a Welsh Assembly led public debate today (Wednesday).

The discussion, held at Nant-y-Ffin hotel, Llandissilio, broached the subject of fundamentally changing the current opt-in system for an opt-out approach.

This means that instead of signing up to donate organs, consent will be presumed by doctors, boosting the numbers of organs available for transplant.

Transplant physician, Dr Richard Moore, led the debate with facts, figures and stories from the ward.

He told health officials, doctors, councillors and members of the public that, with less road accidents and a higher average age, the number of useful organs is decreasing, while the waiting list for transplants grows.

At present 25% of the UK’s population are on the NHS donor register. Although this legally means that organs can be taken from the body when the donor dies, normal practise is to ask the family for approval.

Even in cases where the deceased was a registered donor refusal rates stand at 40%.

Dr Moore said: “Maybe we’re pussy footing about, perhaps we are being too soft. Isn’t it wrong that if you want to be an organ donor your family should negate it?”

“I have spoken to donor families where, at the time of organ donation is was very stressful, but eight weeks later when they have the chance to see what has happened to the organs it gives them solace.”

“We’re trying to encourage a broad public debate about organ donation and the ways in which relatives are approached.”

Since April 2004 five people from the Pembrokeshire area have died whilst awaiting an organ transplant, 47 have received a donated organ and, right now, 26 people are waiting for potentially life saving lungs, livers or kidneys.

33,342 people residing in the Pembrokeshire postcode area are on the UK Organ Donor Register.

At the meeting councillor Jim Codd said: “It’s very interesting, I feel that the public need to be made far more aware of the options.

“It’s going to be a long job and I think they possibly need to publicise it more because it’s a decision people need to make whilst they are well.

“At the moment I’m not convinced totally that the opt-out system is the right one.”