Further details
Name, Vorname
Telefon
Straße
PLZ, Wohnort
Platz für Anmerkungen/Besondere Hinweise
D aT U m
UNTerSchrifT
“Using” the donor card
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Please tick only one of the five options.
 Option 1 – You consent to the removal of organs
and tissue without limitation.
 Option 2 – You want to have certain organs/tissue
excluded. You need to list these.
 Option 3 – You want to limit removal to specific
organs/tissue. Please list these as well.
 Option 4 – You refuse to allow any organs/tissue to
be removed.
 Option 5 – You want to have another person make
the decision. Please enter this person’s name and
contact details.
Experts are available to answer
all your queries about donating
organs and tissue by phone at
0800 - 904 04 00 (free call in
Germany, available Monday to
Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
This helpline is organised jointly
by the Deutsche Stiftung Organtransplantation (DSO, German
Organ Transplantation Foundation) and the Bundeszentrale
für gesundheitliche Aufklärung
(BZgA, Federal Centre for
Health Education).
Contact by email:
[email protected]
You can find detailed information on TK’s website at
www.tk.de, webcode 153308.
TK provides telephone advice
on organ donation from Monday
to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
at 0800 - 285 85 87 89, free call
within Germany.
Send questions via email to
[email protected].
The front of the organ donor card too must be completed in full in order for it to be valid. You also need
to sign and date it. Ideally, keep it with you at all
times.
You can find answers to frequently
asked questions and common misconceptions about this subject at
www.tk.de, webcode 18750.
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Unlike Germany, where organ transplants are only allowed after consent, different rules
apply in foreign countries. When travelling, we therefore recommend taking an organ donor card in the
language of that country with you. You can obtain the
templates at www.tk.de, webcode 464004.
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Talking things over at the right
time
If a close relative suffered a critical accident and the doctors said there was no hope, this would be an extremely
distressful situation. Being also confronted with the issue
of organ donation at this time of extreme distress would
probably make most people despair. It would be particularly hard if, as their relative, you had not been informed
of the deceased’s attitude towards organ donation. Was
this ever discussed? Was it ever made clear whether
certain organs should be excluded? Whether removal of
organs might not even have been wanted?
It is important to form an opinion during one’s lifetime
to avoid having others – not oneself – make the decision
about organ donation. And make sure you appropriately
document what is to be done if the worst comes to the
worst. You can tick the option you have selected on the
enclosed organ donor card, which can be torn out along
the perforated line. Then you can be sure that your
wish will be respected.
These are the possible options
Take the time to inform yourself thoroughly about organ
and tissue donation. Teenagers can give their consent to
organ and/or tissue donation as soon as they reach the
age of 16 – without an adult’s permission either. When
they reach the age of 14, they can refuse to allow organ
donation. There is no age limit for adults. In every case,
however, a decision to allow or to refuse organ and/or
tissue donation should be recorded in writing.
Your declaration of intent
According to surveys, most people living in Germany
have a positive attitude towards organ donation.
However, only 28 per cent of Germans have recorded
their decision “to consent to or refuse organ donation”
with an organ donor card. Obtaining reliable information
is all the more important. So every individual can form
their own opinion.
Worth knowing: The probability of you requiring a new
organ yourself is far greater than that of you becoming a
donor. As brain death only occurs first in only about one
to two people (of 100 who die) – and this is the mandatory prerequisite for organ donation.
Only you make decisions that concern you
 The willingness to donate one’s organs is not
registered anywhere.
 Only you yourself make the decision. And only
you can change it again at any time by simply
filling out a new organ donor card and destroying
the old one.
 No health check is needed during a donor’s lifetime.
 There are five possible options on the organ
donor card. Please tick only one box.
Organ donation – the options
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In addition to organ donation after someone dies
(deceased donation), it is also possible to donate
during your lifetime. However, this is only possible
in the case of a kidney or part of the liver. And: living
donations are only allowed in this country among close
relatives or people who are very close to each other.
You can donate these organs and tissue:
 Heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas,
intestines
 Skin and blood vessels
 Bones, cartilage and soft tissue
 Tissue from the pancreas and liver
For organs to be removed after someone dies, the
German law governing transplants stipulates that
two conditions must be met: The consent of the
donor or of one relative must be available and brain
death must have been established beyond any
doubt. The loss of all brain function must in principle be confirmed by two experienced, specially
qualified doctors independently of one another.
You can obtain further information on the subject of
brain death at www.tk.de, webcode 198488.
Living wills – they count too
Making a living will is very common. This is where you
record in writing which forms of treatment and which
medical procedures you would still want, if suffering
would otherwise be prolonged against your wishes.
Anyone who has made a living will should make sure that
the statements recorded there agree with what has been
entered on their organ donor card. Further information on
living wills is available in the brochure called “Patientenverfügung” issued by the Bundesministerium der Justiz
und für Verbraucherschutz (German Federal Ministry of
Justice and for Consumer Protection) and at www.tk.de
under webcode 034026.
 Cornea and sclera (from the eyes)
 Heart valves
Unlike organs, tissue is usually not transferred directly.
It is kept in special tissue banks until a matching recipient is found. Donated tissue is also needed to make
various medicines.
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