PS:

In fact, come to think of it, I would not want to receive an organ that was harvested before death.

Pauline Gately, Weybridge,

I believe Jenny from London's raises some very important points and I do agree that if we are to make an binding advance commitment by default we must all be fully informed about the implications, particularly concerning the actual process of harvesting vital organs. There is serious, ongoing international debate as to whether the death of the whole brain is really a valid criterion for death and growing scientific evidence that it may not be. Further, the UK criterion of BRAIN STEM death is less stringent than virtually everywhere else, where the death of the WHOLE brain is required. When Sir Liam invites us to join our European neighbours who have opt out schemes he fails to mention that! I believe that organ donation is great and wonderful gift and my family know I would love my body to be used for others - - just as long as I'm dead first. So I will not sign a donor card and will opt out if this system is brought in. If I am denied a organ as a result so be it.

Pauline Gately, Weybridge,

I was lucky enough to receive a kidney from a lady who had passed away. And now myself and the ladies family are very close. Their mum is still partly alive in me and my life was saved by their fantastick gift to me. It's "a win win for all" and that is a quote from the daughter of the lady who passed.

Steven Readon, Hertfordshire, UK

Thanks Marion for your well-made point. All I'm trying to do, in fact, is to find a simple solution to the complicated situation that is being so hotly debated. I would just like to add this thought: I stilll believe (and this has nothing to do with "moral high ground") that if you wish to consider yourself eligible for a transplant you should be prepared to donate. Whether you, as a doctor (?) make a transplant in order to save the life of someone who has not expressed a willingness to donate - that is an entirely different question. But the wishes of the patient should be respected, and if (in deliberately not signing a donor-car) the patient has expressed a tacit opposition to the principle of organ-donation - for whatever reason - this should be respected.

alan, cologne,

Alan of Cologne wants to know what is wrong with denying transplants to people who have not signed donor cards. It's immoral Alan. I'm sorry you can't see it because I actually think you believe you are writing from the moral high ground. We don't deny operations to people who smoke or play sport or who don't pay as much into the NHS as others and nor should we. And nor should we allow someone to die for want of a transplant just because we think they ought to be less selfish.

Marion Morrison, Cheltenham,

What about our fundamental right to stay silent, not to make a decision? Sir Liam Donaldson should better do his research and then provide people with ALL the information they need in order to make an informed and conscious decision. How many of us are not aware of the fact that we are NOT actually dead when "donating" our organs. That our heart is beating, our body is warm and well circulated and that - in fact - doctors can NOT say for sure if we feel pain or not during an explantation, which is why organs are sometimes explanted under general anaestetic! So far we haven't had the right to be informed properly about ALL the facts regarding organ transplantation and now we are to loose our right for protection in our weakest moment. Not with me!

Jenny, London, UK

If it comes to a vote in the Commons, one hopes it will be decided on a show of Donor Cards.

Tim , Taunton,

Why so little publicity to the simple solution put forward by me (not published) and Dominic of Manchesteer? - "Either you get an organ donor card or you are not eligible for an organ donation." - IT'S SO SIMPLE! Entirely voluntary, no government pressure, and it has the advantage of making people think about it and perhaps being more ready to donate. What speaks against this simple, clear-cut solution?????????

alan, cologne,

Views on this subject seem to be divided into those of people who think that the state has a right to determine what we do with our bodies and libertarians who think that the state has no such right. I'm one of the latter. As long as this is an opt in scheme, my loved ones have instructions to allow my organs to be donated for transplant (but not for medical students to play with). My family have been told to refuse consent for the use of my organs as soon as it becomes an opt out scheme.

Tam Earl-Aine, Cheltenham,

This is a scarey path in my view. Assuming Sir Liam gets his way, we'll have a database of all residents in this country complete with age, blood type etc (ID by the back door?). So let us take the scenario of George Bush needing a transplant, or someone else who is high in the financial sector or who in the governments opinion is worthy. Of course they would not dream of making a donor 'appear'. Call me paranoid if you will, maybe I am but Sir Liam is the one who wants to stop everyone smoking in their own home for the 'good of the nation', what else will he sanction for the 'good of the nation'

Les, Southport, England

The whole population?

As smokers and overweight people have been told they aren't worth operating on whilst still alive, how come their organs are suddenly suitable for transplants in death?

RW, Leeds, England

Yes, soon only the rich will get buried with respect. The rest of us can go to hell -- minus our vitals, of course.

Roger Pearse, Ipswich, Suffolk

What is it with Laim Donaldson?

First the "crusade" against smoking and obesity. Now our bodies will not be our own. What happens if you don't happen to have your "opt-out" card on you at the time of "donation"?

The Commons went through this in 2004 and indeed both the then Health Secretary John Reid and Health Minister Rosie Winterton declared it was not up to Parliament to make decisions about what became of people's bodies when they died.

What is it about the word NO that Donaldson doesn't understand!

He should stop poking his nose into other peoples' business and get a job where he can do something useful!

Tim, bournemouth,

i applaud Sir Liam Donaldson for his proposal for an opt out scheme. this needs to be taken on board by the government passed into law as a matter of urgency. i think we would all be glad to have an organ donor in a time of crisis and i know that by all means they can use any part of me when i die.

Gerard Darragh, Armagh, N. Ireland

How different will next year's report be if the consequences of Liam Donaldson's monstrous MTAS/MMC meet the frequent warnings of medical staff working at the sharp end!

Sir Liam might find it easier to increase the number of women in the medical profession if he generated a system that actually employed them instead of condemning them to an option of unemployment or emigration in August!

His day is surely past. His resignation is overdue!

David L. Cox, Loggerheads, UK

Surely this matter demands a referendum as it is apolitical.

Richard Aylward, Thame, UK

Sounds wonderful...but. my father who had not been dying, was killed using doctors from the NHS - 5 of them.

No-one will bring those doctors to account. Not other doctors. Not the PCTs for which they work. Not the GMC. Not the NHS.
They are all still practising, (I use that word advisedly), on innocent, unknowing patients.

Will such a killing be less likely under this scheme.. or more likely?

Charlotte Peters Rock, Knutsford,

Opt out would work fantastic for increasing number of available organs. More life saved. Your actually more likely to need a transplant then to be a donor. Fact.

Jonathan Povey, Papworth, Cambridgshire

Why does it require a change in the law? All that is required is for GPs to record their patients position on organ donation within the medical records. I'm sure its not beyond the realms of a GP to ask this question to patients when they register.

Rakesh, Wakefield,

It all sounds so reasonable. As usual, the devil is in the details.

First, please remember that no-one, I mean no-one, certainly not doctors knows what going on in the head of someone deemed in coma or brain dead. The functioning of the brain is really at the edge of our knowledge. As an example, nobody knows how to define conciousness as a brain function.

Bearing that in mind, please read the following carefully :

They do not use anesthetics when they remove organs from a donor.

How do you feel now?

John, London, UK

And about time too!
It has always struck me as particularly small minded to burn or bury some organ or part that could be used to save a life, after all they are no good to whoever they are attached anymore, are they?
Im sure well get the usual old tosh about desecration etc from some of our immigrants, but some years ago I was told it was among the immigrant population that more donors were urgently and desperately needed.
BG

Bill Glanvill, Horsham, W Sussex

I had absolutely no idea the situation was so bad. I had not registered for no particular reason, probably like lots of other people, and I just did it and it took less than a minute! Please everyone, just sign up for now. If they change the law so it is standard then so much the better!

Virginia, Brighton, UK

Its quite simple to solve.

Either you get an organ donor card, or you are ineligable for for an organ donation.

There, no muss no fuss.

Dominic, Manchester, UK