• E Tackmann and S Dettmer.
• Institute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. elisa.tackmann@charite.de.
• Anaesthesist. 2019 Jun 1; 68 (6): 377-383.

BackgroundGerman post-mortem organ donation rates have been declining since 2010. Several transplantation scandals led to a negative portrayal of organ donation in the media. Spain, the UK and the Netherlands achieved a rise in organ donation rates while retaining organ donation legislation.MethodsA systematic review of publications focusing on (1) organ donation legislation, (2) data on post-mortem organ donation rates and (3) measures to increase post-mortem organ donation rates in Europe was conducted in November 2017 in PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Quality parameters of the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO) were studied to analyze national health services, frequent causes of death and life expectancy.ResultsQuality parameters of national health services were similar in all countries. The Netherlands and Germany have an opt in system. An increase of 37.4% in post-mortem organ donation rates from 2008 to 2015 in the UK was accomplished through the establishment of a donation task force, adopting parts of the Spanish model, while maintaining an opt in system. Spain has the highest organ donation rate worldwide (39.7 per million persons in 2015). The implementation of transplantation coordinators and the change in legislation in Germany in 2012 has so far shown no effect. Public awareness of organ donation in the Netherlands increased following various information campaigns.ConclusionDonation after cardiac death (DCD), expanded donor criteria, increasing public awareness and introduction of an organ donor register should be discussed as measures to increase organ donation rates in Germany.

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