Increasing organ donation rates: is legislation enough?

The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Volume 2, No. 4, p235, April 2017

Editorial
Increasing organ donation rates: is legislation enough?
The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Published: April 2017

On Jan 1, 2017, France implemented a hard opt-out policy for organ donation. Before the new law came into effect, a softer opt-out policy was in place: doctors had to seek consent from a potential organ donor's family if the individual had died without previously indicating their desire to donate their organs; almost a third of families refused permission. It is now more difficult for families to say no: all individuals are presumed to be eligible donors in the event of their death unless they have signed an official register to opt out; individuals opposed to donation but who have not registered can also leave a signed letter or tell their next of kin, but this wish must be put into writing and presented at the time of death.

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