Federal Government Initiates New Legislation for Organ Donor Rules
New push to boost organ donors in Germany with opt-out method gaining traction. NRW Health Minister Laumann remains hopeful this time around, citing increased support from Green Party representatives in Parliament.
In a ZDF-"Morgenmagazin" interview, NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann shared his optimism about the latest Organ donation increase initiative in Germany. He believes the so-called opt-out solution will gain approval this time, especially with more proponents from the Green Party.
The opt-out solution, re-emerging due to a state-led initiative, presumes everyone is an organ donor unless they've explicitly objected during their lifetime. Laumann dismisses concerns about the prioritization of transplantation medicine as illogical. The proposed plan in the Bundesrat calls for multiple letters to citizens, which Laumann deems a "massive informational campaign." "It's not government overreach when we say you need to make a decision about this."
The CDU politician points to surveys showing around 80% of respondents favor organ donation, but only about 40% have an organ donor card. Laumann stresses the dire situation on the waiting lists, with people dying before receiving a new organ.
A draft law for the implementation of the opt-out solution was presented to the Bundesrat in mid-June by eight federal states. It will now be reviewed by the Federal Council's health committee before reappearing on the Bundesrat's agenda for a decision on whether to adopt the draft and submit it to the Bundestag.
The Bundestag previously voted on an opt-out solution in 2020 but couldn't secure majority support. In addition to the state-led initiative, a bipartisan group of Bundestag members is preparing to submit their own initiative for the adoption of the opt-out rule.
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- The new legislation, initiated by the Federal Government, aims to reform the German healthcare system's organ donation policy, introducing an opt-out method largely supported by Green Party representatives in Berlin.
- The proposed law, presented to the Bundesrat by eight federal states in mid-June, seeks to change the current opt-in system for organ donation, aligning with the healthcare policy emphasizing transplants and potentially reducing the number of people dying while awaiting organ donations.
- With the fear of government overreach often cited in debates regarding the opt-out solution, Berlin's Health Minister Laumann emphasizes that the process of making a decision to become an organ donor or not is a personal responsibility, which is crucial within the broader context of German law and healthcare policy.
