Readers have rejected an Oxford MP's bid to introduce a new law to encourage more organ donation.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Evan Harris, wants the donor card system to be replaced with presumed consent, so an individual's organs could be taken for transplant unless they had indicated their opposition.

More than half the Oxford Mail readers who took part in an Internet poll disagreed with the proposals.

Out of 220 who took part, 128 -- 57.4 per cent -- answered no to the question: "Should hospitals assume you agree to donate your organs in the event of your death, unless you actively 'opt out' of donating."

At the moment, anyone who wants to be an organ donor is encouraged to carry a donor card or sign-up to the organ donor register, but their decision can still be overruled by relatives after their death. Dr Harris wants to reverse the policy, so anyone's organs could be used for donation unless they had actively opted out of the system.

The former hospital doctor wants to add his proposals as an amendment to the Government's Human Tissue Bill, which prevents the removal of organs for research by pathologists, following scandals at the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool and the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

He criticised the Oxford Mail poll, claiming it could be misinterpreted to mean that people admitted for hospital treatment would have their organs removed for donation in the event of their death.

He said: "Everyone will have had the chance to opt out of this scheme at the Post Office, or through their driving licence, but it will only be a minority of people who will be able to donate.

"These phone-in or e-mail polls are of limited value because they don't ask the right questions or ask a random sample.

"But clearly it's a contentious issue and people need to know about it and understand the full details."