It goes to the Minister of health, Jens Spahn, to anyone who does not contradict, automatically an organ donor. What exactly does this mean and how can the critic argue?
What is this debate?
The Numbers of organ donors in Germany have been falling for years. According to the German Foundation for organ transplantation, the number of organ donors had achieved in the past year, with 797 a low point. Although there were in the first half of 2018, a slight increase. Still around 10,000 people in Germany waiting for a donor organ, said Federal Minister of health, Jens Spahn at the end of August.
According to the CDU politician, every German who has not objected explicitly, as a potential donor. This requirement has triggered a discussion: Spahn wants to improve with a revision to the number of organ donations, but critics point to the ethical problems and complain about that such a solution personal freedom and self-determination rights to circumcise. Spahn himself rejected the criticism. About 80 percent of the Germans were faced with organ donation in principle, open-minded. A lot less people had, however, an organ donor card, Spahn. And the hospitals time and money were missing frequently, in order to identify these organ donors.
What measures does the Ministry of health in the case of a revision?
The Ministry of health has already prepared a draft law to increase by a better remuneration of hospitals, the number of organ donations. In addition, a strengthening of the introduced a few years ago transplantation is provided officer. Since 2012, any hospital in which organ donation is spatially and staff, must designate such a representative. In addition, smaller withdrawal clinics should be supported by qualified Doctors. Especially a potential organ to be detected, the donor better, and reported. This will be introduced according to the Federal Ministry of health, a nationwide reporting system. “Be committed to hospitals, to the transmission of anonymous data to the coordinating body, which enables an analysis of all deaths with primary and secondary brain injury,” says the Ministry on its Homepage. The German Foundation for organ transplantation is to act as a coordination point and also in the improvement in internal hospital processes to advise. Better care to members is provided.
What is the criticism?
Criticism Patient advocates: “the contradiction solution, can be organ donation, there is no talk, because donations are always voluntary,” said Eugen Brysch of the German Foundation for patient protection, the newspaper “The world”.
The thrust of Spahn, the health expert of the Green Kirsten Kappert-Gonther criticized. She speaks of structural problems. It is less about the lack of support in the population. “Potential organ donor can be identified, rare and reported. The Board of control would not change anything,” she said to the world.
Also, Christine ash, mountain-Dugnus, the health-policy spokesperson of the FDP parliamentary group, criticized the contradiction solution. You would respect the right to self-determination, miss.
The Catholic Church was also hostile. As the German bishops ‘ conference announced that it has considerable ethical concerns about the contradiction solution. Also, not show in other countries that the transition to the contradiction solution transplant to multi-organ ions. Also at the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) came across Spahns proposal to criticism.
What legal frameworks are there in Europe?
In Europe, the institution is organized donation differently. The legal regulations determine when, and under what circumstances the organs of a deceased Person may be removed.
In Germany, the decision solution is considered since 2012. This means that a removal of organs is only permitted if the data subject has consented. Each insured Person receives from the age of 16. Age of your health or insurance information material to the topic and to make a decision.
The narrow consent solution, the Deceased must have already agreed to during the lifetime of an organ donor. No consent, can choose the members. This so-called extended consent solution applies, for example, in Greece, the UK, Denmark and Switzerland.
The contradiction solution is applicable in countries such as France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Portugal, Spain and Hungary. The deceased Person an organ should not have objected to donation during his lifetime, expressly, for example, in a register of objections, organs for Transplantation are removed. No decision of the deceased Person should be able to speak to the members in some countries the organ donation. The Board of control, with right of objection of the relatives is in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania and Norway.
At the beginning of the year, the Netherlands have changed their organ donation law, and any Person to the organ donor explained. In Europe, the opposition to regulation is now in 16 countries.
What conditions must be met in the case of organ donation?
In addition to the consent of the deceased or of his relatives, the medical aspects must be observed. Only humans, in which brain death can donate organs. So if the total is down function of the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the brain stem, irrevocably, and this was noted by two Doctors. The circulatory System is obtained artificially, in order for the organs and tissue will continue to bleed through. In most death cases, a heart occurs first, at a standstill, which is why the organ donation comes only for a few Deceased in question. In contrast to organ donation, a donation of tissue can be performed for up to three days after the cardiac arrest, the so-called Clinical death.