Judith Collins - National Party Health Spokeswoman

16 December 2004

Minister whimps on organ donation

The Health Minister has whimped out of accepting key recommendations of the Health Select Committee, says National's Health spokeswoman, Judith Collins.

The recommendations were:

· A dedicated national organ donor register replace the current haphazard system.
· Research is conducted into public awareness and attitudes to organ donation.
· The consideration of a donor register be separated from the Human Tissue Review.
· The Government review the funding of Organ Donation New Zealand.

"This Minister has given in to the powerful do-nothing lobby at the Ministry of Health, and forced the Labour members of the Select Committee to eat humble pie," says Ms Collins.

"Doctors, nurses, patients and their families should be outraged at this blatant disregard for effective and proven measures.

"This is another issue on which this Minister has lost all credibility."