Statistics Due to a lack of organ donors, a patient dies every eight hours

We need more organ donors in Germany, demands the German Minister of Health
More people in Germany should deliberately deal with the issue of organ donation, now demands the Minister of Health Hermann Gröhe (CDU). In Germany, a human being dies about every eight hours because there is no suitable organ donor. Many sufferers could be helped if more people carry an organ donor card with them.

An organ donor card can save the lives of sick people. Unfortunately, too few Germans have such a passport. Because of this, many people die every day who could be saved with donor organs. The German Minister of Health now called for more people in Germany to become organ donors.

Germany needs more organ donors. Every day, three people die because there are no suitable organ donors available. It is so easy to apply for a donation card. (Image: Dreadlock / fotolia.com)

More than 10,000 Germans are currently waiting for a donor organ
Each and every one of us can come tomorrow to the situation, to need an organ donation, be it through an illness or an accident, quoted the news agency "dpa" the Federal Minister of Health. In Germany alone, more than 10,000 people are currently waiting for a donor organ. These are not available in sufficient numbers. For this reason, a person dies in Germany every eight hours, who would normally have lived with a donor organ.

Options for organ donor card
It is best to make a personal decision immediately in an organ donor card. This creates clarity and security in an emergency, especially for relatives, says Minister of Health Gröhe. In addition, through such a donor passport, we can pass on the gift of life, if at some point in the future, the minister adds in a dpa message. Basically, we can record in the so-called organ donor card, if we want to make our organs available to other people in the event of a brain death. Of course we can reject this process as well. But there are even more options with a donor pass: owners have the opportunity to give their consent to organ and tissue donations. This consent can also be limited to certain organs.

Past scandals reduce the willingness of citizens to donate
Unfortunately, the willingness to donate of German citizens has decreased significantly in recent years. This is due to a few past scandals. For example, doctors had given medications to patients, which made them look sicker than they really were. Through this manipulation, those affected should get to donor programs faster, reports the dpa. In addition, some people are still unsure whether a present brain death can be diagnosed without any doubt at all.

Organ donation day offers the opportunity to get more information
On the day of organ donation, all people can find out more about this important topic. For this they should have talks with doctors and people affected. Quietly ask any questions that interest you or move you. Discuss the topic with your family, explain your decision and then document it in your personal organ donor card, the dpa quotes the Federal Minister of Health.

Lack of confidence in the award system reduces willingness to donate
A study by the company health insurance fund pronova BKK revealed that about three quarters of all Germans are in principle prepared to donate organs after their deaths. The problem is that only about 43 percent of people in our country have the necessary organ donor card. The biggest reason for rejecting organ donation is the lack of confidence in the allocation system and the death diagnosis, writes the dpa. In total, 125,233 organs have been transplanted in Germany since 1963. This could save the lives of many affected people. Donor organs can give those affected many extra years of life, the organizers of the day of organ donation are cited by the dpa. (As)