The government passed a law that makes adult citizens donors

The Netherlands has taken a big step in their legislation to support organ donation. While the regulations will be effective until 2020, all citizens over 18 years become organ donors automatically, unless they express otherwise in writing.

Who have promoted the initiative, belonging to the group of left liberals, presented the project in 2016. The idea is to motivate people to donate life and reduce the shortage of organs available. Pia Dijkstra, the deputy who drafted the project, specified that the elderly (+18) will receive a notification asking if they want to be or not donors. If there is no response on the card, it will be assumed that the patient is "not opposed". Therefore, the family, ultimately, may prove that the deceased did not really want to be a donor with a written document.

On the opposite side are those who are against the law. Geert Wilders, populist right – wing leader argues that "the body of the Dutch is not owned by the State, it belong to each person (…) not make a decision is a way to decide "as he told EFE.

Currently, in the Netherlands, the total of donors sums 6 million people of which 60% gave their consent to be a donor, 29% declines, while 11% do not define and leave it in the hands of third parties such as their family, this according to EFE.

Europe Situation

In general, donors in Europe are much higher than in Latin America. Spain is the country where there is the largest number of donors, this is due largely to the transplant law adopted in 1979, which stipulates that all citizens are donors unless they otherwise express in life. However, families are consulted to make effective the donation. During 26 years, Spain has being the leader in number of transplants and donors.

Europe is a world leader in transplantation, France apply legislation very similar to the one adopted by the Netherlands and so European countries that joined Belgium, Croatia, Austria, Portugal, Norway, and the Czech Republic have in common the application the presumed consent.

Latin America Situation

Despite progress in legal matter, the number of donors in South America is not comparable with European countries. According to EFE, the South American countries where donation occurs more are Cuba, Argentina, and Brazil. While countries where it is not achieved an effective donation are Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.

Somewhere in between are countries like Colombia, Chile, and Costa Rica. In an interview with EFE, the Colombian doctor, Alejandro Niño, former president of the Transplantation Society of Latin America, commented on one of the success factors of donations: "Several of the countries that lead in the areas of transplantation and donation owe it to the state policies sustained over time".

In Uruguay and Colombia there are similar laws, a citizen is a donor unless he/she has stated otherwise in writing, based on a presumed consent law standard. In Nicaragua, for example, a law was passed allowing donations to live people and / or relatives.

According to Transplant Organization of Spain and the World Health Organization (WHO), global figures show approximately 120 thousand organ transplants in the world, of these 15,000 were made in Latin America.

Testimonies

María Banda Torres is a Peruvian woman who was absolutely against organ donation, she explained to the newspaper El Comercio. When she was 18 years, her rejection was strong and did it effective when she renew her identity card. "You have to experience the situation to understand how important it is to donate and to understand it is an immense act of love that means giving life to another", says Banda. Her son was saved by the donation of a family. "That family saved the life of my son and it changed all our lives. We are eternally grateful", said Mary.

That was also the case of Carlos Alvarez, who is 33 years. Shortly after reaching the majority age, Alvarez was diagnosed with kidney failure, which led him to remain on the waiting list for five years. Carlos was the first person in Peru to receive double transplant, both kidney and heart. "I was a very immature young person, now I know this is an act of incredible love, love for humanity and neighbor" reflects Carlos in El Comercio.

Argentina had an increase in 2017 of almost 16% in its proceedings, being Buenos Aires where more transplants were performed. Awareness campaigns for the population achieved almost 200 thousand people make the decision to be organ donors.

During 2017, Chile reached one of the highest numbers of donors. Since 2001, they have been adding more and more people who support this procedure, according to figures from the Corporation Transplantation. The success is due to the efforts of private institutions, organizations, patients, universities, media, and the Chilean State.

Because of fears, insecurities, and ignorance people oppose to organ donation. Only when the population is directly affected, people understand the importance of these procedures. Campaigns governments and entities such as associations Transplant perform a series of informative programs, which have generated to be more donors.

Latin American Post | Daniella Paez Otey
Translated from “Holanda y la donación de órganos”