FDP plans revolutionary organ donation: cardiovascular arrest as death?

FDP plans revolutionary organ donation: cardiovascular arrest as death?

In the Berlin Bundestag, the FDP has launched an important project: the political group plans to revise the definition of death in order to expand the requirements for organ donation. In the future, the cardiovascular arrest could also serve as a potential basis for the removal of organs, which deviates from the previous regulation that brain death must be demonstrated. This effort aims to increase the number of organ donors, which is an important step in view of the growing need for organ transplants. Katrin Helling-Plahr, a legal politician of the FDP, expressed in a conversation with the "world" that this project also respects the individual right of self-determination with regard to the death of people.

A position paper on these plans is to be adopted by the faction this Tuesday. This document suggests that potential donors can hold their will for organ donation in a special additional field in the organ donation register or on organ donation cards in order to communicate their decision clearly.

challenges in the death assessment

Andrew Ullmann, health policy spokesman for the FDP and university professor in Würzburg, explained the challenges when determining death. He emphasizes that there is no absolute standard in medicine to explain death. The defined death due to an ongoing circulatory arrest can be regarded as equivalent to brain death. However, Ullmann made it clear that proof of cardiac death is easier and more secure at the same time. It is noteworthy that the effort to determine brain death is considerable, which significantly limits the potential number of organ donors from the outset.

The need for more organ donation is numerous and urges change: Last year, 965 people made organs available for others after their death. Nevertheless, around 8,400 people in Germany are waiting for a suitable organ. In order to consider a donation, two independent specialists have to determine the brain death of a person, which also makes the process complicated and lengthy. Against this background, the planned expansion of the definition of death is seen as a step in the right direction to save organs offered.

These changes in the organ donation system are important for the further development of health care in Germany. The focus here is on a more practical solution for organ removal and reflects the continued pressure to shorten the waiting lists for transplants. Current information about these developments can be found on the website www.radioenneperuhr.de can be read.