§ 15. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he hopes to complete his discussions on the introduction of a medical identity card, giving details of the carrier's blood group, allergies to penicillin and steroid therapy, history of coronary disorder and diabetes, as a means of increasing the number of organs available for transplant.
§ Mr. AlisonPresent consideration of such cards has no bearing on the question of the supply of organs for transplantation. This, as the hon. Member knows, is being pursued by other means.
§ Mr. DalyellAs the provision of medical identity cards probably represents the lowest common denominator of agreement among those who would like to change the law on transplants, could not this be considered fairly quickly? On the Minister's reply, both the donor and recipient would benefit from such a provision.
§ Mr. AlisonThere is already a good deal of difficulty in reaching agreement professionally about what the medical identity cards at present on trial should contain. Arguments whether information about transplantation should be included in such cards in the future would make it even more difficult to reach agreement in the profession.