Switzerland has voted to make everyone a potential donor after death unless they have expressly objected.
This is in an effort to boost the availability of transplant organs.
The legal move was agreed upon by over 60% of voters in a referendum.
This has flipped the typical opt-in system on its head as under existing laws organs can only be transplanted if the individual makes their wishes known when still alive.
This often does not happen and the responsibility may then be transferred to a relative to decide.
The new rules will only apply to those over the age of 16 and the medical conditions for such actions remain the same - only people who die in a hospital intensive care unit can donate their organs, and two doctors must confirm the death.
According to the organisation Swisstransplant in 2021 more than 1,400 patients were awaiting organ transplants and 72 people died in that same year while on a waiting list.
Figures from the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation from 2021 show that Ireland ranks 28th in terms of organ donation rates out of 72 countries worldwide.
The HSE reported that in 2021 there were 650 families in Ireland waiting for transplant surgery.
As it stands, Ireland operates under the opt-in method of organ donation.
