I wish to comment on the above because of deep concerns about the effects on the human right to bodily integrity of introducing a scheme of presumed consent to organ donation.

 The most basic concern is the idea of the state owning the bodies of citizens and taking their organs for transplant.

It is emphasized that people can opt out of such a scheme, however given the chaotic state of hospitals and lack of emphasis on consulting patients even about putting them on the Liverpool Care Pathway, itself a matter of life and death, it does not inspire confidence that individuals' wishes will be respected even when clearly stated in writing.

This being the case, the anticipated effect on unforced donations - that they will decline - we will go further and further down the path of compulsory organ-snatching.

The campaign for an 'opt out' system has continued for many years, but has always raised the same questions, none of which has been adequately answered; there is a clear danger that a managed consultation in Wales will be used to promote the idea in other parts of the UK.

With an ageing population and younger generations compromised by heaving drinking clearly there is a problem in obtaining healthy organs for transplant; however, a better approach would be to discourage heavy drinking and cease the official programme of state-sponsored mass abortion of future citizens.

Yours faithfully,

Ann Farmer (Mrs)

Essex