An amendment to the Health bill passing currently through the National Assembly envisages that from 2018 agreement to organ donation be presumed with families of the deceased person "informed" which organs will be used.
Although the move was not part of the Minister's project, the amendment was carried. Polls suggest that 80% of French people are in favour of organ donation, but only 65% of families give consent when asked. The bill proposes of register of refusals, rather than of agreements.
Doctors and hospitals, who have 18000 patients waiting for transplants, are not comfortable with the idea, thinking that it will create conflict at a very sad time for the families concerned.
It remains to be seen whether the amendment will survive the Senate and the second reading.
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