Cultural circles release statement denouncing prejudice and exhorting inclusion. - In 2023, Saxony recorded an increase in organ donors and transplants.
In Saxony, the number of deceased organ donors and transplantations is on the rise once again. As per the German Foundation for Organ Transplantation (DSO), 66 individuals offered their organs post-mortem last year, five more than in 2022. Currently, there are 372 people awaiting a life-saving transplantation.
The Saxon Medical Chamber actively campaigned on the annual Organ Donation Day (June 1st) to tackle public objections. Its president, Erik Bodendieck, urged for greater awareness around organ donation, encouraging even more individuals to actively decide and put it in writing. Despite their best efforts, the number of donors has been steadily reducing. The Federal Center for Health Education's survey revealed that 84% displayed a positive attitude towards organ and tissue donation, yet only 44% had documented their intentions.
DSO's data shows a total of 386 organs are presently required in Saxony. Kidneys have the most significant demand on the waiting list with 263 patients. A further 50 individuals require a liver, 36 seek a heart, 20 need a pancreas, and 17 long for a lung. The decrease in donated organs began in 2020, with 133 transplantations performed that year, 12 more than the preceding year. However, the number had dropped significantly by 2022 to just 121.
In the initial four months of 2024, 26 individuals were registered as potential donors, three more than the previous year. By the end of April, 58 organs had been donated, 17 fewer than in the same period in 2023, yet there were four more transplantations carried out (46). The number of donated organs has been declining since 2020, standing at 185 in the following year, 42 less.
Organ donations critical to saving lives in Germany are only permitted with explicit consent. To stimulate more citizens to decide whether they wish to donate their organs upon their demise, a heightened consciousness of the subject is being promoted. The Day of Organ Donation is commemorated annually on the first Saturday in June since 1963, honoring all donors and their families while also promoting organ donation.
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In light of the increasing organ donations and transplantations in Saxony, a crucial discussion about death and organ transplantation has emerged in Dresden's cultural circles. Encouraged by the rising organ donor numbers, these circles have released a statement emphasizing the importance of organ donation and the role it plays in saving lives, thereby promoting inclusion and breaking down any remaining prejudices.
