Number of organ donation consultations is increasing
Since March 2022, patients have had the right to a transparent consultation on organ donation every two years. This seems to have had an effect: In the previous year, nearly 3.8 million consultations were held regarding the conditions and possibilities.
Consultations on potential organ and tissue donation saw a significant increase in the previous year. General practitioners and specialists conducted nearly 3.8 million consultations, as reported by the Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance in Germany (Germanski: Zi). The previous year had seen only 2.44 million such consultations.
These consultations could help allay fears and concerns and increase the number of organ donations, according to Zi-Chairman Dominik von Stillfried, as stated in a press release. "Our results show that there is a great willingness in the population to donate organs, but a much greater need for medically assured information and qualified consultation."
Law encourages consultation
A law that came into effect in March 2022 considers a transparent consultation an additional service provided by general practitioners. Patients and clients are therefore entitled to a consultation on organ donation every two years.
Organs such as kidneys, livers, or hearts have been in short supply for years for seriously ill patients. In the previous year, 965 people donated an organ or several organs after their death, as determined by the coordinating German Organ Transplantation Foundation. At the same time, there were 8,400 people on the waiting list. For donations to even be considered, both specialist doctors must independently determine the brain death of the deceased.
Urgent need for organs
With the Organ Donation Register Act passed in 2020, organ donations are only allowed with explicit consent. The Bundesrat is advocating for a change in the rules to facilitate more transplantations. The Council of Ministers submitted a legislative proposal to the German Parliament last week for the introduction of a waiver solution. The Organ Donation Register went live in March, allowing people to store their organ donation declarations online.
The increase in organ donation consultations might lead to a rise in actual organ donations, given the high public willingness but requirement for accurate information. According to Zi-Chairman Dominik von Stillfried, the International community could also benefit from such initiates, as transparency and education in organ donation are crucial globally.
