European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation

European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation History

European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation (EDODT) is aimed at raising awareness about the importance of organ donation and transplantation, as well as promoting a positive attitude towards the subject. This significant day serves as an opportunity for European countries to join together in support of organ donation and to encourage conversations among citizens about becoming potential donors. The observance emphasizes the life-saving impact of organ transplantation and acknowledges the generosity of organ donors and their families.

Established in 1996, European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation was created by the Council of Europe in response to the growing demand for organ transplants and the continuous shortage of available organs. The EU strives to improve organ donation systems, increase the number of donors, and ensure high-quality and safe transplantation practices, as highlighted in the European Commission’s Action Plan on Organ Donation and Transplantation for 2009-2015.

To observe the day, various events and activities are organized, often involving collaboration between national health organizations, transplant teams, and patient associations. Activities may include information campaigns, conferences, and public gatherings designed to inform citizens about the benefits of organ donation and the requirements for becoming a donor. The event takes place annually on a Saturday in early October. The day is observed on October 10th this year.

Top facts about European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation

• The slogan for European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation in 2023 was Your present is their future.
  The slogan for European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation in 2022 was Become an "Influencer for life" and share what's most precious.
• According to the Council of Europe, in 2022, 39,000 patients received a transplant and 48,000 new patients were registered onto waiting lists in Europe.
• The first successful kidney transplant took place in 1950. The operation was carried out by Dr. Richard Lawler in Chicago.
• In 2010, the first ever full facial transplant was carried out by Dr Joan Pere Barret and team in Barcelona.
• When I entered the operating room to give one of my two kidneys to my brother I did not flinch. I had a daughter and a husband waiting for me although in Italy, but my brother had three children in Portugal that were expecting a miracle for their father. Today I have a lovely scar on my body. My brother lives and works completely normal. And if you ask me, I do not consider myself a hero. I am just glad that a part of my body lives inside him .. An organ donor reflecting on donation.

In the News and Trending for European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation

European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation Top Things to Do

• Check your organ donation status. Some countries, for instance Germany and the UK have people opt-in schemes, where you must register to be a donor. Other countries, like Austria and Spain, work on an opt-out basis, where organs are automatically donated unless otherwise specified.
• Roll up your sleeve. You don’t have to give up a kidney to be a donor. Blood products are also in high demand. Blood donation centres are constantly collecting blood and blood components to help those in need.
• Stop smoking or help a loved one quit! Smokers have a 30% higher risk of transplant failure compared to non-smokers and are far more likely to need one in the first place.
• Watch a film about organ donation. The journeys and struggles of the process are encapsulated in films like
  1) Never Let Me Go (2010)
  2)Unwind (2007)
  3) Inhale (2010)
• Learn more about the science and ethics of organ donation and transplants. Some of our favourite reads on the topic:
  1) Twice Dead: Organ Transplants and the Reinvention of Death By Margaret Lock
  2) The Transplant Imaginary: Mechanical Hearts, Animal Parts, and Moral Thinking in Highly Experimental Science By Lesley A. Sharp
  3) Scarce Goods: Justice, Fairness, and Organ Transplantation By Tom Koch