Memorandum by Sue Mottram
The e-mail containing questions from Baroness
Howarth was forwarded to me by our Secretary to Churches together
in Dorset. I am replying to it as an individual Quaker, albeit
as one who has consulted Quaker Faith and Practice [our book of
discipline], staff at Friends House, and as many local Friends
as has been possible.
Friends as a whole have no religious objection
to organ transplants. Many welcome the move to assume consent
if an individual has not opted to dissent.
The concerns expressed have been about ensuring
that there should be no coercion of vulnerable relatives, and
that the need to harvest healthy organs should not override the
patients need for a comfortable death.
Most Friends would not regard organ donation
as a matter of Faith, but should they seek help in their decision
making we have appropriate processes in place for them to discern
their way forward.
25 February 2008
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