Three deaths save 15 lives
In the last 48 hour, 15 lives have been saved thanks to the relatives of three people who died in intensive care units around Greece agreeing to donate their loved ones? organs, hospital officials said on Thursday.
The 15 patients were listed on the National Transplant Organization?s (EOM) waiting list and were notified that organs had become available after the death of a 26-year-old woman in Iraklio, Crete, a 53-year-old woman in Thessaloniki and a 29-year-old woman in Athens.
Organ donations have been showing a gradual rise in Greece over the last few years although the figures are still low compared to other European Union countries.
The government drew up legislation earlier this year that would allow the donation of organs without the consent of a potential donor?s relatives, and would allow the donation of live organs between people who cohabit.
EOM objected to ?presumed consent? and the Church of Greece also raised concerns about this form of donation.
