Gift of a lifetime

SIR – Professor C J Rudge (Letters, March 2) mentions that families are approached for permission to use a patient’s organs, regardless of whether or not that patient is on the donor register.

However, quite often the family refuses to allow the donation to take place – even if the patient had expressed a wish to be a donor in life. A donor’s wishes must be allowed to override those of the family.

I have very good reason to be grateful that the family of a woman who passed away 32 years ago honoured her wishes. Without her heart I would never have celebrated my diamond wedding anniversary or known three more grandchildren, as well as six great-grandchildren. Ken Harris

Southwold, Suffolk