Organspende - Ausweis ausfüllen

Many people who suffer from particularly serious illnesses (e.g. liver, heart, kidney or lung diseases) can only be saved with the help of an organ transplant.

With an organ donor card you can

• consent to organ removal after your death,
• object to it,
• restrict your consent to certain organs or
• transfer the decision to relatives or trusted persons.

Note: The general determination of death in the event of respiratory and cardiac arrest can be made by any doctor. However, the prerequisite for organ donation is a diagnosis of "irreversible loss of brain function (brain death)". This is defined as a state of irreversible total loss of function of the cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem. It can occur, for example, as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage, a severe brain injury or a brain tumor. The guideline for determining irreversible loss of brain function (brain death) is drawn up by the German Medical Association in accordance with legal requirements and must be approved by the Federal Ministry of Health.

A "brain-dead" person can no longer breathe independently. Without mechanical ventilation, the resulting lack of oxygen inevitably leads to cardiovascular arrest. With mechanical ventilation and medication, cardiovascular arrest can be delayed for a certain period of time so that the organs continue to be supplied with blood. Under these conditions, it is possible to remove organs for transplantation.

The diagnosis of irreversible loss of brain function (brain death) is initially completely independent of a possible organ donation. It is carried out in order to obtain reliable information about a patient's condition.

Your organ donor card remains valid for as long as you wish. When you fill out an organ donor card, your personal data will not be registered. You can therefore change your decision at any time by destroying your card or filling in a new one (e.g. with a modified consent to the removal of certain organs). Consent and the transfer of the decision can be declared from the age of 16, the objection can be declared from the age of 14.

Talk to your close relatives about your attitude towards organ donation so that they are aware of your decision and can act on your behalf if necessary.

Tip: Further information on organ donation is available from the Federal Center for Health Education and the German Organ Transplantation Foundation

None.

None.

All insured persons who have reached the age of 16 will receive information material on organ and tissue donation as well as an organ donor card when their electronic health card is issued. The health insurance companies provide their policyholders with these documents in connection with the premium notification.

You can also download the organ donor card from the website of the Hessian Ministry for Social Affairs and Integration, print it out and fill it in yourself. You can also obtain it from many pharmacies and doctors' surgeries.

You can also give your consent to organ donation in an informal letter.

Tip: Always carry your organ donor card with you along with your other identification documents. This is where it is most likely to be found if necessary. Or keep it with close relatives or other trusted persons who will be informed in the event of an accident.

A living will can also be used to document a decision for or against organ and tissue donation.

The Protestant Church in Germany (EKD) and the German Bishops' Conference (DBK) of the Roman Catholic Church have published a handout with forms entitled "Christian Patient Care".

Further information on living wills can be found in the brochure published by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection entitled "Living will. Suffering - Illness - Dying. How do I decide what should be done medically if I am unable to make a decision?".

Some people want to make their body or organs available for medical education and training or for medical-scientific research after their death. Relatives usually know about the last will and testament of the deceased person regarding organ or body donation. Contact the relevant institute as early as possible to find out about the formalities involved in donating your loved one's body or organs. The institute will take care of the transfer of the body and its subsequent burial.

Please note: relatives cannot revoke such agreements with anatomical institutes.

You can download the organ donor card from the website of the Federal Center for Health Education or the Hessian Ministry for Social Affairs and Integration,