National organ donation day: making your choice known to your loved ones

On the occasion of National Organ Donation Day, June 22, the city of Nice is relaunching its mobilization in favor of organ and tissue donation. The awareness campaign reminds us of the importance of discussing this with those around us in order to respect our wishes and to save lives in the future.

An Ambassador City for organ donation since 2024, Nice is participating in National Organ Donation Day through an awareness campaign broadcast on municipal social networks. This mobilization aims to inform residents about the rules governing organ and tissue donation, while encouraging dialogue within families.

Organ and tissue transplantation is a major public health issue. Every year, thousands of patients benefit from a transplant. A single donor can save up to seven lives.

In France, the principle of presumed consent applies. Every person is considered a donor after their death, unless they have expressed their refusal during their lifetime. This opposition can be registered in the National Register of Refusals or communicated to those around them.

Essential conversation with loved ones

The question of organ donation remains closely linked to family discussion. When the wishes of a deceased person are not known, some families choose to oppose organ retrieval. Making one’s position known therefore allows one’s choices to be respected and facilitates an act of solidarity.

Today, more than 70,000 people in France are living thanks to a transplant. According to national data, 74% of French people declare themselves in favor of donating their organs after their death. At the same time, only 49% have already shared their decision with those close to them. Yet 90% of French people believe it is important that those around them know this choice.

June 22 is thus an opportunity to talk about organ donation within the family. A few words exchanged today can help ensure that a wish is respected tomorrow.

Beyond organ donation, needs also concern blood, platelets, plasma and bone marrow. Road accidents continue to require transfusions for victims of acute hemorrhages. Cancer treatments increase the need for platelet and bone marrow donations. Kidney failure related to diabetes and other kidney diseases also creates a growing demand for transplants.

When a young or healthy person dies, several organs can be retrieved and save multiple patients. Health professionals emphasize the importance of addressing this subject when all is well, to avoid the question arising in the urgency of a tragic event.

Organ donation, blood, bone marrow and plasma now occupy an important place in the management of many diseases. Beyond the medical challenge, this approach is based on solidarity and helps offer new perspectives to thousands of patients.