Organ transplantation from living donors in Russia can only be allowed with the written consent of citizens. The deputies plan to pass the relevant bill as early as June 2021, the newspaper “Izvestia” reported. The document also proposes to list the rights of donors and add new rules on bone marrow and stem cell transplants.
What can change in the law on transplantation?
According to the Law of the Russian Federation “On the transplantation of human organs and (or) tissues” of 22.12.1992 N 4180-1, today the removal of organs or tissues from a patient for transplantation is possible “only with the consent of a living donor” and, as a rule, with the consent of the recipient (the patient who is being transplanted). However, the document does not specify how exactly a person should agree to this procedure and whether oral consent is sufficient.
This gap can be filled by a bill that amends the law of the Russian Federation “On the transplantation of organs and (or) human tissues” and the Federal Law “On the Basics of Public Health Protection in the Russian Federation”. The document proposes to allow the transplantation of organs or tissues of a living person only if there is a written informed voluntary consent of the adult capable donor and recipient.
And if the donor is a minor or incapacitated?
If a potential donor has been declared incompetent or is unable to give written consent due to his condition, it is suggested to use the written informed voluntary consent of his legal representative.
Similar rules are recommended for situations where the donor may be a minor.In this case, the document must be signed by one of its parents.
What else will change in the rules of organ transplantation?
The document also proposes to include new regulations on bone marrow and stem cell transplantation. The current version of the law refers to the transplantation of human organs and tissues. In the new version of the law, it is proposed to prescribe that its effect also applies to donors of bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cells (progenitor cells of all other blood cells and the immune system in the body).
In addition, the amendments propose the creation of a federal register of bone marrow and stem cell donors.It is assumed that this issue, as well as the financing of operations and patient travel, will be resolved.&the government will handle it. Since organ donation in Russia is possible only on a gratuitous basis, the document recommends that explanatory work be carried out on the social significance of such decisions.
The document also establishes the responsibility of the medical organization to the donor and its rights to health protection, medical examination, treatment and rehabilitation in connection with organ transplants, etc.