Supplementary memorandum by the Church
of England
In response to Baroness Howarth's letter of
30 January with additional questions to Faith groups about organ
donation, we should like to answer as follows:
Q1. No specific aspects, providing consent
is in place, and there is adequate opportunity for considered
ethical reflection by all parties.
Q2. Rather the contrary:
we would expect all Christians to consider ensuring they are registered
organ donors.
Q3. There are differing views within the
Church of England on presumed consent; for principled reasons
on both sides, some favour it and others do not. There are hesitations
about the potential for "opt-out" to change the relationship
between individual and State. However it is recognised that there
is a need for more organs and a mismatch between the percentage
of people overall who believe they should donate their organs
and the percentage who actually register as donors, hence the
need for more and better public education and campaigning.
Q4. We would not expect members of the Church
of England to be treated as a discrete group, opting out or opting
in, but would want members to make up their own minds and act
accordingly.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to revisit
these important ethical issues in relation to organ donation.
29 February 2008
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