A coalition of eight German states, spearheaded by North Rhine-Westphalia, has presented a draft law proposing a significant shift in organ donation procedures. The initiative, announced by the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Health on Thursday, aims to establish a system where all adult citizens in Germany are presumed to be organ donors unless they actively opt out.
The proposed legislation, designed to address the critical shortage of available organs, would change the current system, which relies on explicit consent for organ donation. The draft outlines detailed provisions regarding the documentation of opt-out declarations, including options for registration in a dedicated organ donation registry, incorporation into personal identification documents, or verbal expression of dissent to family members.
Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann has voiced his belief that this “opt-out” model has the potential to save lives and significantly reduce waiting times for vital organ transplants. According to figures from Eurotransplant, nearly 8,300 patients across Germany were awaiting organ donations as of January 1, 2025, with over 1,700 residing in North Rhine-Westphalia. While 2,850 organs were donated nationwide in 2024, only approximately 500 originated from North Rhine-Westphalia.
The draft law stipulates a two-year period between its official promulgation and its implementation, accompanied by a comprehensive public awareness campaign to inform citizens about the changes and provide clear instructions on how to register an opt-out.
The proposal is being jointly presented by North Rhine-Westphalia alongside Baden-Württemberg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia. The initiative is scheduled for review and discussion at the Bundesrat (Federal Council) on Friday.
