According to a plan announced yesterday by the Welsh assembly, organs could be taken from all deceased people in Wales without the consent of their families unless their families object.

According to an estimate 30 people died in Wales every year waiting for organ transplants.

Chief medical officer for England and Wales, Liam Donaldson’s statement saying that many people were dying because of the shortage of donations, initiated the move.

Welsh minister for health and social services Edwina Hart will initiate moves with Westminster to introduce the system in 2010.

The Human Tissue Act 2006 states that people must give written consent before their organs can be taken after death, but families of four out of 10 people do not support this move.

Donaldson while criticizing the 2008 taskforce for its refusal to support the mandatory removal of organs disagreed that presumed consent would not increase organ donations.

The Conservatives have however criticized the announcement.

Jonathan Morgan said, "I think it is preferable for someone to want to opt-in to something than for the government to presume you have no objection because you have not opposed it."

A charity's chairman, Roy J Thomas said, "Only 28 per cent people are registered with the NHS organ donor but we know that there would be many who would like to donate their organs.”