Overview
- In a Saturday interview, former health minister Karl Lauterbach said the chance of adopting an opt-out (Widerspruchslösung) organ-donation law in Germany has increased and he pointed to Crown Princess Mette-Marit's short wait for a lung transplant as persuasive evidence.
- The Bundestag is set to debate the opt-out proposal next Wednesday and proponents have signalled they want the measure finalised in the autumn.
- Under the Widerspruchslösung all competent adults would be presumed potential donors unless they formally opt out, a system already used in Norway, Austria and Spain.
- Supporters say the change would speed access to lung, heart and kidney transplants and cut deaths on waiting lists by increasing the number of available organs.
- Significant political obstacles remain because the evangelical and Catholic churches explicitly oppose the plan and lawmakers will have to resolve ethical and consent concerns to build a majority.