Memorandum by the Jeanette Crizzle Trust
As discussed, I have written for you below a
summary which I hope is helpful for you to include as a further
piece of evidence to reinforce the need to continue with the current
"Opt In" policy.
Our 2007 report can be found on our website http://www.jeanettecrizzletrust.org/default.asp?page=229
In addition, we should like to highlight, based
upon all the evidence we collected in 2006 and 2007, the following
key points:
1. The Government agreed, in accordance
with our April 2006 proposal, to allocate tax payers' money to
launch an education programme with the object of raising donor
levels in the long term.
2. If this is successful, in twenty years
from now, every person in the UK under the age of thirty will
have all the necessary facts to do with donation, enabling them
to make an informed decision with regard to joining the NHS registers.
3. Our 2006 report to Rosie Winterton, former
Health Minister, suggested that an education programme in schools
would lead, in the long term, to an increase in the number of
donors.
4. Our 2007 report suggests that the overall
awareness of the question of donation in England is currently
limited.
5. There is a possibility that if an "Opt
Out" principle became UK law, a significant number of the
general public would "Opt Out" without having the full
facts and merely in accordance with their personal opinions. This
might then undermine the taxpayers' investment in the education
programme, the whole purpose of which was to increase national
donor levels in the long term.
6. Attempting to launch the "Opt Out"
principle in 2007/8 would not provide the Government with the
opportunity to see the benefit, if any, of the education programme.
As discussed, I should be more than prepared
to make an oral presentation if required and should you require
any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
1 November 2007
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