Organ donation laws should be changed
Date published: 26 February 2018
Editor,
It is obviously a terrible tragedy that people die through a lack of donor organs.
But I firmly do not believe that the law in England should be changed from opting in to opting out.
Yes, there is plainly a need for more donor organs but for the State to presume to take a citizen’s organs without explicit permission is wrong.
They do not belong to the State in life and should not do so in death.
An opt-out system was introduced in Wales in 2015 and this actually led to a drop in deceased donors so why is it thought such a system will work any better in England?
It is estimated that moving to a system whereby citizens have to opt out will bring an extra 100 donors a year but I think in our liberal society we should retain the existing system but devote much more effort to encouraging people to carry donor cards.
It should be a matter of conscience not diktat.
Paul Nuttall, North West MEP
UK Independence Party
The views expressed are those of the author of the letter and not those of Oldham Chronicle.
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