The Swiss accepted Sunday the proposal to increase organ donations thanks to the transition to the model of presumed consent as in France, a principle denounced by some who evoke an ethical problem.
According to the first estimates of the polling institute gfs.bern, 59% of voters unsurprisingly accepted the amendment to the law on transplantation.
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Until now, a person who wishes 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.
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.
Waiting for a donation
Last year, 72 people died while waiting for a donation, according to the national foundation Swisstransplant.
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 reform provides that the Swiss will be considered donors in the event of brain death unless they have expressed their opposition during their lifetime, by registering on a register of the Confederation or by notifying their relatives.
Relatives will always be consulted
The medical conditions for donating will be the same as today: only people who die in the intensive care unit of a hospital can donate their organs, and the death must have been confirmed "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 Federal Council and Parliament expect the change in the law to increase the number of organ donations.
According to the Swiss authorities, most European countries, notably France, Italy, Austria and Spain, apply the model of presumed consent, and record on average a higher percentage of donations than Switzerland.