Commission launches public consultation into organ donation
The European Commission has launched a public consultation into the future of organ donation, which aims to determine how far the EU can legislate to improve the situation for those affected - 10 Europeans die every day waiting for organ donations. Organ transplants began with the 1950s with kidneys transplants between identical twins, performed in both Boston and Paris. The zenith came with Dr Christiaan Barnard, who performed the first heart transplant in 1967 in what was then a highly controversial procedure. The first face transplant was carried out in France in 2005. In the early days, recipients of donated organs may not have lived long. Today, the improved use of drugs to avoid 'rejection' of organs has given many almost-normal lives. Steroid-free immunosuppression is an example, as is ongoing research into the better matching of tissue types. While the value of organ transplants is recognised by the majority, exceptions include some religious and ethics groups. And because the number of donors is generally low, the market in black market donations has prospered. Black market donations have both ethical and health implications. However, the experience of patients from different Member States varies. For example, in Spain there are 34.6 donors per million population (ppm), while in the UK this figure drops to 13.8 ppm, to 6 ppm in Greece and 0.5 ppm in Romania. 40,000 people wait for organ donations across the EU, and those waiting for heart, liver or lung transplants have mortality rates of 15-30 per cent. Markos Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, said: 'Organ transplants are among the great medical miracles which save the lives of thousands of people across Europe every year. However, access to this life-saving treatment and its quality varies depending on which Member State you are in. Moreover, the scarcity and uneven distribution of organs encourages the dreadful and illegal practice of human organ trafficking. It is time to examine what action could be taken at EU level to help to secure a sufficient supply of organs, while also ensuring the full safety of this supply.' Donors generally have to have been healthy adults who may have died suddenly. Exceptions are single kidneys, partial donation of liver, small bowel, or pancreas, in addition to blood and bone marrow which can all be donated by living donors. The consultation will examine three possible scenarios: - to continue with a limited number of basic projects, already underway through different EU programmes; - promote coordination between Member States on organ donation and transplantation. This could include: establishing guidelines for quality and safety standards; sharing experiences and best practice; promoting European registers on transplantation; identifying the main EU-level organ exchange problems; and reviewing the legal framework on organ trafficking; - coordinate Member States, who will work together on any outlined actions. The Commission would study how EU legislation could complement and reinforce these actions. A directive on organs could set quality and safety requirements for donation, procurement, testing, preservation, transport and distribution, along with legislative proposals against organ trafficking. The consultation will run until September 15.