Thousands of seriously ill people are waiting for donated organs. Politicians are therefore trying to encourage more people to register as donors. Many people are now seeking medical advice.
Last year, there was a significantly higher demand for consultations on possible organ and tissue donation. General practitioners held almost 3.8 million consultations on the requirements and options, according to the Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance in Germany (Zi). The previous year, the number was 2.44 million.
The consultations could help to overcome fears and anxieties and increase the number of organ donations, said Zi CEO Dominik von Stillfried, according to the statement. “Our results show that there is a great willingness among the population to donate organs, but an even greater need for medically verified information and qualified advice.”
Patient Protection Foundation: Advice does not necessarily lead to donation
A law that came into force in March 2022 provides for open-ended counseling as an additional primary care service. This means that patients are entitled to information about organ donation every two years.
The chairman of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, Eugen Brysch, thinks the law is a good one. “However, there is no evidence that it will automatically increase the population’s willingness to donate organs,” he says. “Getting information is one thing, the result of the consultation is another.” The institute should not mix the two.
Last year, 8,400 people were waiting for organ donations
More organs such as kidneys, livers or hearts for seriously ill patients have been urgently needed for years. Last year, 965 people released one or more organs for others after their death, according to the coordinating German Organ Transplant Foundation. At the same time, however, 8,400 people were on waiting lists. In order for donations to even be considered, two specialists must independently determine that a deceased person is brain dead.
With the register law passed in 2020, organ donations are only permitted with explicit consent. The Federal Council is pushing for a change in the rules to enable more transplants. Last week, the Chamber of States decided to submit a draft law to the Bundestag to introduce an opt-out solution. In March, an organ donation register was launched in which people can store declarations of their willingness to donate online.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
