How are organ donations organised and regulated?

In Germany, organ donation is strictly regulated by law. Legal basis is the Transplantation Act (Transplantations­gesetz, TPG). It ensures safety, transparency and fairness for all parties involved.

It is very important to separate the different areas involved in organ donation.

Independent teams take on the various tasks. One team determines the death, another allocates the organs, and a third carries out the transplant surgery. This clear separation of areas prevents conflicts of interest.

The role of the German Organ Procurement Organization

Organ donation is organised and coordinated in Germany by the non-profit German Organ Procurement Organization (Deutsche Stiftung Organtransplantation, DSO) based in Frankfurt am Main. It has several regional branches.

The DSO supports hospitals with all processes related to organ donation.

This includes:

• The medical examination to determine whether organ donation is possible
• Organising surgical removal of donated organs
• Preservation and transport of donated organs
• Coordination with transplant centres.

The DSO also provides organisational support to participating hospitals and assists them with quality assurance. Independent committees constantly monitor the DSO’s activities.

Organ allocation

Donated organs are allocated via the independent Eurotransplant agency based in Leiden (Netherlands). Eurotransplant works internationally to quickly find suitable recipients for each organ in its member countries (Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia and Hungary). Selection is made according to medical criteria such as urgency, prospects of success and physiological compatibility.

The role of transplant officers

Each hospital with an intensive care unit has specially trained transplant officers. They are experienced doctors and nurses who work independently and report directly to the hospital executive.

They identify potential organ donors, coordinate the necessary processes and help relatives navigate this difficult situation. They also train medical staff on the topic of organ donation.

Important: transplant officers are not involved in organ allocation or the subsequent organ transplant surgeries. This ensures that organ donation is transparent and carried out without conflicts of interest.