Spain Culture News
The British in Spain join the organ donation habit
By h.b. - Nov 3, 2009 - 7:16 AM
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Photo - www.ont.es
ABC newspaper today runs a piece called the ‘The Paradox of the British in Spain’
The ABC newspaper paper notes that Spain is one of the leading countries of the world when it comes to organ donation, and the system here is declared to be exemplary by the WHO, World Health Organisation. Spain has the highest rate of donations of any country in the world, at 36 donors per million, and 83% of Spanish families respond positively when asked for consent.
And here is the paradox. It seems that when Britons move here they also take on the habit with the Spanish. 150 Brits have donated their organs in Spain over the past three years. It’s a number far higher than the rate back in the U.K.
Rafael Matesanz, from the ONT, National Transplant Organisation in Spain, says the key is the professionalism of those who work in the transplant teams here. He says the Spanish legislation helps, as anybody here is considered as a potential donor if they have not previously spoken against the procedure. However no organs are ever used without consent and the family is always consulted.
You can get full details, in English, on the procedure here in Spain here - http://www.ont.es/Home?id_nodo=124
(Health story)