| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nephrol Dial Transplant (1999) 14: 2309-2314
© 1999 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association
Dialysis and Transplantation News
Organization of organ donation—concepts and experiences in Niedersachsen/Ostwestfalen
Deutsche Stiftung Organtransplantation, Organisationszentrale Hannover, Germany
Correspondence and offprint requests to: Prof. Dr. Gundolf Gubernatis, Deutsche Stiftung Organtransplantation, Organisationszentrale, Stadtfelddamm 65, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
Organ transplantation is a well-established therapeutic procedure. However, too many patients must wait for a transplant and many of them die on the waiting list. In the rich western countries, further expansion of organ transplantation is not prevented by a lack of financial means. Rather, the `disaster' of not being able to provide valuable and often life-saving treatment which is, in principle, available is caused by the shortage of transplantable organs.
In looking for a remedy for organ shortage, it is important to understand the true reasons for its emergence. As far as this is concerned, it should be observed first that across European countries consent rates are quite similar, whereas realized organ donation rates per million inhabitants vary between different countries from 13 (in some countries even less) to more than 30. Thus, variations in the willingness to donate cannot be the main reason for organ shortage.
Contrary to
Steps towards a new regional organization of organ transplantation
Underlying idea and basic approach
(i) Better informed hospital staff
(ii) Enhanced motivation by means of changes in perspectives and structures
(iii) Comprehensive service
(iv) Optimization of retrieval processes by means of management
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Acknowledgments