ORGAN DONATION: NEW HOPE THROUGH THE EXPECTED AMENDMENT IN GERMANY?

Gernot M. Kaiser¹, Radunz Sonia¹, Ulrike Wirges², Andreas Paul¹, Matthias Heuer¹

¹General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, ²Region Northrhinr-Westphalia, DSO, Essen, Germany

Introduction: The current organ donor shortage in Germany results in the death of 1,000 patients on the transplant waiting list every year. In response, a recent amendment to the German Transplant Act aiming to increase donor rates was passed in 2012. The objective of this study was to collect and evaluate data on the public's attitude toward organ donation prior to the amendment.

Methods: A survey on the subject of organ donation was conducted in 2011 among clients of a public pharmacy in a major city in the federal state North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Data regarding gender, age, health behavior and attitude toward the amendment were collected and analyzed in comparison to whether or not the individual possessed an organ donor card.

Results: A total of 1,485 questionnaires were evaluated. Of those surveyed, only 14.1% had an organ donor card. No statistically significant associations between gender (p-value 0.3045), age (p-value 0.1453) and the possession of a donor card were observed. 72.5% of respondents stated that they appreciated the expected amendment, and in the case of implementation, 83.4% would obtain an organ donor card.

Discussion: The future success of transplantation medicine relies on an increase in the public's overall willingness to donate organs. Educating the public and ensuring transparency in transplantation medicine are necessary to achieve higher donation rates. It remains to be seen whether the amendment to the German Transplantation Act will bring the desired results. At the very least, the measure signifies action to address the organ donor shortage.