Taking up the cause at last!

 

Several activities took place today in the context of the National Organ Donation day. In Aigle and Sion much was being done to inform people concerning a subject that remains taboo.

 

Considering donating one’s organs is far from being a normal reflex among the Swiss population. Our country is the only country in Europe with no standardised legal practice concerning organ transplants. However, a first step on the road to victory has been made by the organisation ‘Passez le Relais’ who, along with other organisations working to promote organ donation, has finally reaped the rewards of much hard work with the adoption of a project by the state council for a new law on organ transplants.

The text, already accepted by the Conseil National, finally provides a basis for a generalised legal procedure in this area. ‘Roughly speaking, the law is based on the principal of unspoken consent and freedom to donate on behalf of the donor and those in his close family,’ explains Pascale Lilla, the founder of the organisation ‘The law also defines death as being the ceasing of all cerebral activity. It is worth noting those points which have caused the most division: notably, the primacy of the confederation over the cantons concerning the application of the law, the inclusion of the fact that someone is a donor in their driving license; the principal of reciprocity concerning organ donation or the process of appeal.

All these subjects are what constitute the mission of the first organisations in favour of organ transplant, ‘Passez le Relais’ in particular. One of the primary objectives of this organisation is the creation of a computer-based register of all the donors in the country or various activities promoting awareness of the need for organs and information campaigns such as the one in Aigle today on the national day for organ donation.

 

A call for solidarity

The association ‘donate bone marrow’ launched an appeal for solidarity on the occasion of this national day for organ donation. Whether or not to donate one’s organs is a very personal decision to be made with full awareness and reflection. It is of primordial importance that one’s family has access to information concerning your desire to donate organs. This is why it is so important to fill out a donor card and have it with one at all times.

Another way to make a donation is through donating one’s bone marrow.

The association ‘donate bone marrow’ works in collaboration with the local Red Cross blood transfusion services and its goals include helping these services to recruit new donors of bone marrow and to raise awareness in the population.

 

In Aigle and Sion

For this national organ donation day, Aigle will provide an information stand in front of the Migros, while in Sion, there will be a stand near the station. The flying club of the Valley will take young people who have received transplants for a flight. In addition, each one will have a chance to pilot a plane under the surveillance of a flying instructor.

 

 

Christine Schmidt.