Death - Organ Donation

Legislative framework

Act of June 13th, 1986 on the removal and transplantation of organs (MB, February 14th, 1987).

This law applies to the removal of organs or tissues of the body of a person called "donor" for the transplantation of organs or tissues for therapeutic purposes in the body of another person called "receiver ".

The law allows the removal of organs and tissues at death of every Belgian citizen or a foreigner (he is resident in Belgium for at least six months) provided that the deceased had not expressed, during his lifetime, that he was opposed to this levy. Provided that, if nothing has been said previously, that the immediate family (parents, spouse and children) is not against it.

Signs of clinical death

Brain death is the irreversible destruction of the brain. The diagnosis of brain death is established on the basis of a clinical signs set, supported -where appropriate- by further investigations.

To learn more, click here: www.health.fgov.be  (tab My health)

How to become a potential organe donor

The desire for organ donation (or refusal) may be expressed formally by completing a consent form, available on www.beldonor.be and http://www.mutsoc.be/Mutsoc/MaSituation/Sante/Don-organes/declaration.htm .

It can also be submitted to your local administration. The commune sends the document to the National Register of natural persons. At any stage of your life, you can reverse your decision and change it in one way or another. The approach is entirely free of charges.

When three doctors, as required by the law, certify the brain death of a person, the transplant coordinator checks with the National Register if the patient has previously expressed his will to donate or not his organs. This is the opinion which will be followed.

The law requires the respect of the will of the deceased. It also states that organ donation is an act free and anonymous. Belgium, like many other countries, suffers from a shortage of organs, which constitutes a major obstacle to transplantation. Lists of patients awaiting transplantation are impressive.

Periodically, the Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment conducts awareness campaigns to reduce the waiting time for patients as an organ donation is a gift of life.

You ask yourself questions about organ donation? The Federal government has launched a website on the subject. You'll find complete information (definitions, explanations of the law, procedure, ethics, costs, numbers, stories) and many links to associations of organ donation.

Belgium is part of Eurotransplant, an association gathering transplant centres in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Slovenia and Austria in order to gather the largest possible number of donors and recipients and thus optimize the allocation of available organs.

More information

www.health.fgov.be  

www.beldonor.be

Belgian Association for Organ and Tissue Donation (Association Belge du Don d’Organes et de Tissus - ABDOT)

www.organdonor.be/

www.sdoasbl.com

Cf.: http://www.mutsoc.be/Mutsoc/MaSituation/Sante/Don-organes/