Federal President - Steinmeier for objections resolution in organ donation
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier advocates for a solution to the organ donation contradiction - and shares a personal story with his wife Elke Büdenbender. It's a contradiction, he said to magazine "Bunte" in a joint interview, for us to reject organ donation solutions in our own country while happily accepting them from other countries. "We see ourselves as responsible, vocal citizens, so we can also demand a decision from ourselves," Steinmeier stated.
People in Germany have not been able to convince enough that they should speak for or against organ donation, according to the Federal President. Yet, we profit from the European Transplant Union with the significantly higher donation readiness in European countries.
Steinmeier: Donation must remain voluntary
No one should be forced to donate organs after death, "it must remain voluntary and voluntary," Steinmeier said. Every year, many people die who "would not have had to die if organs were available," he added.
In Germany, organ removal is only allowed with explicit consent. In contrast, in some countries, the organ removal after death is allowed if one has not explicitly objected during life. An initial attempt for an opt-out solution failed in the Bundestag in 2020.
Büdenbender: My husband's kidney is part of me
According to Büdenbender, many people hesitate to "grapple with their own mortality and push a decision on organ donations into the future." She could understand that. In 2010, the Federal President donated a kidney to his wife. In 1996, Büdenbender suffered a total kidney failure during the birth of their daughter Merit. Fourteen years later, a transplant was necessary, as the couple recounted.
"As recipients, I can say: The donation gave me a life. I believe that through educational conversations about organ donation, we can convince people," the judge and First Lady said. Right after the birth of their daughter, it was clear to her husband that he wanted to donate his kidney. Today, that organ of her husband is "a part of me."
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as the Federal President of Germany, strongly advocates for resolving the organ donation contradiction, highlighting the paradox of accepting organ donations from other countries while refusing them within Germany.
- The European Transplant Union significantly contributes to organ donation readiness in European countries, which Germany actively benefits from due to insufficient public engagement in organ donation discussions in its own country.
- According to Steinmeier, organ donation should always remain voluntary, emphasizing the importance of respecting personal autonomy in such matters, especially when it comes to preserving life by providing organs to those in need.
- Every year in Germany, numerous individuals die due to the lack of available organs for transplantation, a situation that could potentially be improved with enhanced organ donation awareness and consent rates among the population.
- Elke Büdenbender, the wife of Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has a deep appreciation for organ donation after undergoing a successful kidney transplant from her husband in 2010. As a recipient, she believes that educating people about organ donation can help convince more individuals to register as organ donors and ultimately save lives.
