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Fewer organ donations in Saxony

Würzburg/Leipzig 13. November 2025 10:31 Uhr 3 Min
Fewer organ donations in Saxony
The number of organ donations is rising nationwide, but falling in Saxony. (Symbolic image) / Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
From: DieSachsen News
The number of organ donations is rising nationwide, but falling in Saxony. What is behind the reluctance of relatives and why written consent is so rare.

The number of organ donors and donated organs in Saxony is slightly lower this year than in 2024. By the end of October, 156 organs had been donated in the state and subsequently transplanted in Germany or abroad, according to the German Organ Transplant Foundation (DSO). In 2024, the figure was 164.

In the state as a whole, 54 people have donated an organ after their death so far this year (2024: 63). Nationwide, there have been 836 people so far (2024: 789). A total of 132 people in Saxony received a donor organ that was removed in Germany or abroad and arranged via the international procurement agency Eurotransplant.

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More organ donations nationwide

The number of organ donors and donated organs has risen slightly across Germany. According to the figures, 2,523 organs were donated and subsequently transplanted in Germany or abroad (2024: 2,391). A total of 2,738 people in Germany received a donor organ.

"The slight increase in organ donation compared to the previous year is pleasing for the patients on the waiting lists, but should not obscure the fact that this does not represent a fundamental turnaround in organ donation," said Axel Rahmel, Medical Director of the DSO.

DSO: Citizens should form their own opinion on organ donation

Rahmel pointed out that many organ donations do not take place due to a lack of consent from relatives. Of 2,963 potential donations reported in the period from January to October, 2,127 cases could not be realized - in around half of these cases, it failed due to a lack of consent.

This trend has been going on for several years. If relatives have to decide according to the presumed will of the deceased or their own values, less than 25 percent agree to an organ donation. Only 15 percent of all possible organ donations have a written statement of wishes.

All citizens should form an opinion on the question of organ donation and document the decision they have made, said Rahmel: "So that their will regarding organ donation can actually be implemented when it matters."

Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved

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Topics :

Health Organ donation Saxony Disease Science Würzburg/Leipzig
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Projekt Saxony Today : Mehrsprachigkeit von regionalen Nachrichten für in Sachsen lebende Menschen ohne deutsche Muttersprache. Projekt wird gefördert durch die Sächsische Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und neue Medien. Diese Maßnahme wird mitfinanziert durch Steuermittel auf Grundlage des vom Sächsischen Landtag beschlossenen Haushaltes.
Projekt Saxony Today : Mehrsprachigkeit von regionalen Nachrichten für in Sachsen lebende Menschen ohne deutsche Muttersprache. Projekt wird gefördert durch die Sächsische Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und neue Medien. Diese Maßnahme wird mitfinanziert durch Steuermittel auf Grundlage des vom Sächsischen Landtag beschlossenen Haushaltes.