Organ donation is often presented as a simple act. Yet it is a complex, deeply human process that remains widely misunderstood. On the occasion of National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, Chain of Life seeks to bring this reality to the forefront of public reflection.
Although thousands of people await a transplant each year, very few understand what is truly required for organ donation to take place. In 2025, in Quebec, out of approximately 80,000 deaths, only 198 resulted in organ donation (in Canada, out of approximately 350,000 deaths, only about 900 resulted in organ donation). This figure illustrates a little-known reality: organ donation is only possible in a very limited number of situations, particularly in cases of neurological death (brain death) occurring in intensive care.
This rarity invites us to rethink how we approach organ donation. It highlights that transplantation is closely linked to overall health. A significant proportion of transplants are associated with chronic diseases that, in many cases, could be prevented or better managed.
“Understanding this rarity is essential,” says Lucie Dumont, President of Chain of Life. “It reminds us that prevention is also part of the solution, alongside education, family dialogue, and support from every link in the chain, from donation to transplantation.”
For over 15 years, Chain of Life has been working directly in schools to educate Secondary IV or V students about organ and tissue donation through an ethical and human-centred approach. The goal is not to persuade, but to help young people understand the reality of donation, develop critical thinking, form their own informed decisions, and initiate meaningful conversations with those around them. A subject that is often difficult to approach becomes a space for real dialogue. In doing so, young people become true agents of change engaging their families, influencing their peers, and contributing to a more informed, more altruistic, and healthier society.
As part of National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, Chain of Life is offering resources to help the public better understand organ donation and encourage informed discussions.
To better grasp the medical conditions that make donation possible—particularly the concept of brain death, a video by Dr. Matthew J. Weiss is available:
Because dialogue is essential, a resource on family discussions is also available: https://chainedevie.org/en/increase-awareness/family-discussions
Along the same lines, Chain of Life has created a video illustrating the human chain that connects education to transplantation:
These resources are part of a broader effort: to make National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week a true lever for deepening public understanding of organ donation.
A registered charity since 2017, Chain of Life educates youth aged 15 to 17 about organ and tissue donation. Integrated into the secondary school curriculum, the program is offered in more than 100 schools across 15 regions of Québec. A leader in school-based organ and tissue donation education, Chain of Life prepares young people to become agents of change for a more informed, more altruistic, and healthier society.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
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