In addition to the state of art as well as the legal situation, this work deals with key ethical problems (brain death, distributive justice, quality of life and human dignity). Its aim is to combine the various subjects and problems and to start an interdisciplinary debate in order to structure and objectify the discussion which has at times been highly polemical. The appendix contains a reprint of the law passed in 1997 as well as the different bills which were discussed in parliament.