LAW TO MAKE DUTCH ADULTS POTENTIAL ORGAN DONORS

Senators in the Netherlands approved a new law Tuesday that makes all Dutch adults potential organ donors unless they opt out. The law narrowly passed in the upper house of the Dutch parliament. The lower house last year passed the legislation with a one-vote majority. The law’s drafter, Pia Dijkstra, said that under the new system — which is similar to donation laws in Belgium and Spain — every person over 18 who is not yet registered as a donor will receive a letter asking if they want to donate their organs after death. Those who do not respond to the first letter, or to a second letter six weeks later, will be considered organ donors, although they can amend their status at any time.