Faced with the shortage of transplants which left 19,000 people waiting (9,000 in 1997), the deputies slightly rewrote an article in the Health bill on strengthening presumed consent to organ donation in any deceased adult.
Almost automatic organ harvesting
THE’amendmentadopted on Friday, April 10, provides for the removal of organs from a person if the latter has not objected to it before his death. While today the family has the power to choose whether or not to harvest organs from a deceased person, they would simply be informed by the doctor if the bill was passed definitively.
According to the amendment of Minister Marisol Touraine, the national register of refusals would be the main means, and no longer exclusive, to express his refusal of an organ removal on his death. The modalities by which this refusal could be expressed and revoked are referred to a decree of the Council of State published by January 1, 2017.
More waiting for transplants than donations
The number of people awaiting transplants is increasing faster than the number of organs removed, due to a refusal rate of around 40% even though, according to a survey carried out in 2013, nearly 80% of French people would be ready to donate their organs.
The explanation lies in the often negative attitude of families who, questioned in a moment of emotional shock, opt for no as a precaution, even if they regret it later.
For the socialist Gérard Sebaoun, “no one will remove an organ if the family does not consent”. And for many doctors and nurses responsible for taking samples, it even seems inconceivable to do without the consent of the families.
Read also :
– Organ donation: do you know what the law says?
– Organ donation: six-day-old baby saves two lives in Britain
