The Swiss accepted the proposal to increase organ donations by switching to the model of presumed consent, Sunday, May 15, according to the first estimates made after the popular vote. Some 59% of voters (turnout 39%) accepted this change in the law, according to the gfs.bern institute. Until now, a person who wanted to donate their organs had to give their consent during their lifetime. From now on, those who do not wish to donate their organs will have to indicate this explicitly. in a Confederation register or by notifying their next of kin.
Over the past five years, around 450 people per year on average have received in Switzerland – which has more than 8.6 million inhabitants – one or more organs removed from deceased persons. But at the end of 2021, there were more than 1,400 people on the waiting list. The consequences are sometimes dramatic. Last year, 72 people died while waiting for a donation, according to the Swisstransplant national foundation.
France applies presumed consent
Currently, it often happens that the will of the person concerned is not known. It is therefore up to the relatives to decide. In the majority of cases, they oppose organ donation, according to the authorities. The refusal rate of more than 60% noted during interviews with relatives is one of the highest in Europe, even though surveys show that 80% of the Swiss population is in favor of donating organs, says Swisstransplant.
The concept of consent by default has been adopted, but the medical conditions to be respected for the removal will be the same as today: only people who die in the intensive care unit of a hospital will be able to donate their organs. , and the death must have been certified “unequivocally by two doctors”. Relatives will continue to be consulted and they will be able to refuse any donation if they know or suspect that the person concerned would have objected.
The regime of presumed consent, as provided for by the law on the #transplantation is in the majority in Europe and will increase organ donation to save lives in Switzerland.
So on May 15, YES to the law on transplantation.#CHvote @Transplant_YES #Organ donation pic.twitter.com/ogRHLrx79w— PLR Switzerland (@PLR_Switzerland) May 2, 2022
The Federal Council and Parliament hope for an increase in the number of organ donations. According to the Swiss authorities, most European countries (France, Italy, Austria, Spain, etc.) already apply the model of presumed consent, and record on average a higher percentage of donations than Switzerland. But like points out the Swissinfo website, developing an implementing order could take years. Time to create a national register and launch information campaigns.