Should we have to opt out of organ donation?

DESPITE the fact my wife and I have carried donor cards for years, if the Government’s plan goes ahead to change to an opt-out system we will withdraw our consent. I expect a lot of people would do the same. The Government does not own our bodies. E. D. WILLIAMS, Sandbach, Cheshire.

IN the row about presumed consent, we often lose sight of the fact that you can still choose to opt out. In other words, the choice to donate some organs, all organs or nothing at all still rests with the individual. ALISON TAYLOr, Perth. PRESUMED consent might seem like a good idea, but yet again we are surrendering more control to government. I am registered for organ donation, but it’s my choice and not that of politicians. ANGUS LINDSAY, Dunfermline, Fife.

TO ASSUME your organs can be harvested unless you opt out is little better than body-snatching. Mrs G. WArrINGTON, Hyde, Cheshire.

INSTEAD of changing to opt-out organ donation, it would make greater sense to create a database of everyone’s blood group, DNA and fingerprints. This would save time in catching criminals and help match up organs for donation. To donate organs is a personal issue that should not be state controlled. Mrs L. EAGLES, Torquay, Devon.

THE assumption that the next of kin have the final say on organ donation was a muddled response to the scandal of tissue and organ samples being retained by hospitals without the knowledge of relatives. We should follow Wales and Spain, where there is presumed consent for organ donation. JOHN HArFIELD, Harlington, Beds.