Alternative method for settling conflicts in organ transplantation cases
In an effort to address the persistent issue of organ donation in Germany, several federal states have joined forces to resubmit a legislative initiative to the Bundesrat. The states involved include Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Thuringia, and Saarland.
The bill, which calls for the introduction of presumed consent for organ donation, was initially submitted in December 2023 but could not be pursued further due to the collapse of the traffic light federal government. However, following a change of government in Berlin, the initiative is now being taken up again.
Health Minister Manne Lucha, from one of the leading states, Baden-Württemberg, has emphasized the need for a paradigm shift towards a culture of organ donation in Germany. Lucha stated that too many people are dying every day due to a shortage of donated organs, and it's high time for a culture of organ donation to be established, and for the wishes of those who support organ donation to be implemented.
Germany is one of the few European countries that has not yet introduced presumed consent for organ donation. According to surveys, more than 80 percent of people express support for organ donation, yet the number of organ donations in Germany has remained stagnant at a low level for ten years.
In Baden-Württemberg, the wish of the deceased is known in only 35% of potential organ donation cases, and a written declaration of intent for organ donation is available in only 15% of potential donors. Despite intensive care unit sensitization campaigns for organ donation, the issue remains a significant challenge.
Relatives continue to reject organ donations in some cases, leading to the loss of urgently needed organs. Lucha believes that a paradigm shift towards a culture of organ donation can be achieved in Germany, and the initiative could be a significant step towards that goal.
For more information, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, and Integration can be contacted via their Press Office or Citizen's Representative. The federal government is once again being called upon to include presumed consent in the Transplantationsgesetz to improve organ donation rates in Germany.
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