Germany’s Medical Transplantation Foundation Urges Renewed Focus on Organ Donation Debate
The Medical Director of the German Transplantation Foundation, Axel Rahmel, has called on the new federal government to swiftly resume the discussion on introducing a contravention regulation for organ donation. In an interview with the Rheinische Post, Rahmel emphasized the importance of making organ donation a cultural norm in the country, particularly if a majority of the parliament supports such a legislative change.
Rahmel’s goal is to make the discussion of organ donation at the end of life a self-evident matter for both the public and healthcare institutions. He also highlighted the significance of the organ donation register, introduced last year, in ensuring the reliable implementation of an individual’s will to donate organs and thereby helping the many people on the waiting lists in a timely manner.
However, the register’s impact will only be felt if a significant number of people in Germany use it. After an initial surge in registrations following the register’s launch in March, the trend has not continued. Currently, there are approximately 320,000 registered entries. Rahmel warned that if the number of registrations does not increase significantly, it may take many years for the impact to be felt on organ donation.