§ 27. Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of his advisory committee on transplant surgery; and whether he will publish it.
§ Mr. CrossmanI expect advice from my standing advisory group soon.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithBut as heart transplant surgery has now restarted in this 12 country, throwing up important ethical, moral and legal considerations, would the Secretary of State bear in mind that the public will in due course be looking to Parliament to provide necessary legislation to protect, not only the recipients of transplant operations, but also potential donors?
§ Mr. CrossmanYes, I am very much aware of this problem. My advisory group has a difficult job on its hands in trying to estimate public opinion, which on this subject is ambivalent and uncertain. In those circumstances, I do not think that it is wise to legislate until one is quite sure that one has the matter right and one knows the state of public opinion. It is better to leave it until things are clarified. But I would hope to get legislation if we are confident that the public will accept a view on the key issue.