Organ donation: new negative record

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MunichThe number of organ donations reached a new low in 2013: Compared to the also poor previous year, there were only 876 donors instead of 1,046. That is a decrease of 16.3 percent - the negative trend of recent years is thus continuing. The German Organ Transplantation Foundation (DSO) presented the figures in its current report and speaks of a “shocking annual balance sheet”.

Scandals destroyed trust

Göttingen, Leipzig or Munich - one organ donation scandal followed the next last year. It was then discovered that doctors at some clinics had falsified data in order to help certain patients get a new organ more quickly. These manipulations have clearly left their mark on the Germans' willingness to donate organs: it is as low in this country as it was last 23 years ago. Confidence in transplant medicine has been weakened.

"We view this development with great concern," says Dr. Rainer Hess from the DSO. The current figures mean that there are only 10.9 donors for every million people in Germany. This of course also reduces the number of organs donated - from 3,247 in 2012 to 3,034 in 2013. And that exacerbates the organ shortage in Germany even more. Around 12,000 seriously ill people are currently waiting for a new organ.

More transparency and education

The goal now must be to restore confidence in transplant medicine. According to Hess, it is important, together with hospitals and transplant officers, to continuously provide information on the subject of organ donation and to create transparency. Because: "No patient in Germany has to fear that the doctors give up too early because of an organ donation," he assures. (jb)

Source: The number of organ donors continued to fall sharply in 2013. Press release of the German Organ Transplantation Foundation (DSO). January 15, 2013.

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