The idea of state ownership of body parts throws up some interesting thoughts. I rather like the idea of community ownership of things that, after one's death, might benefit other members of one's human community. After all, no individual but the dead person has any entitlement to such ownership, but collective ownership for the benefit of others is, to me, an attractive idea, especially given that so few people get round to being active donors even when they don't disagree in principle.
It's similar to donating blood. According to a statistic I heard recently, only 4% of people who could donate blood actually do so. I find that rather shocking and hope it is incorrect but I think it's just inertia that stops people from offering to be donors, rather than any deep felt objection. I expect that's what has pushed the change of law.
Does anyone know which other countries, if any, have opt out laws in place rather than depending on opting in as we do at present?