Record numbers have registered for organ donation - the association fears, it has been done on unclear grounds

More than half a million Danish residents have in the past year expressed their willingness to donate their organs.

This is the first status on the national organ donation plan, which the Interior and Health Ministry is behind.

Interior and Health Minister Sophie Løhde (V) is pleased that many have expressed their willingness in the past year.

- It has gone fantastically well, she says.

The increase has occurred, after the Interior and Health Ministry a year ago sent letters to all Danish residents over 18 and encouraged them to take a stance specifically on organ donation.

And in the summer, new rules came into effect, where one is automatically registered as a potential organ donor - but still must confirm the registration to become an active donor.

Read also: In the next few weeks, five million Danish residents will be reminded of the "X" that saved Nanna's life (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/de-naeste-par-uger-bliver-fem-millioner-danskere-mindet-om-saette-de-krydser-der)

The numbers do not say anything about how many have said yes or no to becoming donors.

And the fact that many have expressed their willingness, is not necessarily indicative of the fact that waiting lists have already fallen. That is according to surgeon at Rigshospitalet's department for brain and nerve surgery Niels Agerlin.

He expects, however, that there will eventually be an effect.

- When one has to make a decision on someone else's behalf, there is a greater tendency to say no, rather than if one makes the decision oneself.

- If one has taken a stance, there are more who say yes, rather than if it is the relatives who have to take a stance, says Niels Agerlin.

According to Niels Agerlin, it is good that more are taking a stance, so that the responsibility does not fall on the relatives:

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Lung disease approved for transplantation

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In total, nearly 1.9 million Danish residents have expressed their willingness to organ donation.

The number has increased by 528,108 between December last year and November this year.

The increase pleases Lasse Heidelbach, who is the founder and managing director of the Organ Donation Association.

But he is upset that there is not also a look at how many of the Danish residents who have expressed their willingness, have said yes or no to organ donation.

For he fears that many may have said no on an uninformed basis.

- We are not running any information campaigns before we started sending out this letter to millions of Danish residents and asked them to take a stance. What we are upset about is that we are essentially asking Danish residents to take a stance on an uninformed basis.

Listen to Lasse Heidelbach elaborate on his concern here:

The same is Heinrich Søndergaard Nielsen concerned about.

He is 47 years old and had lung fibrosis diagnosed in 2018. The disease makes his lungs gradually weaker and weaker and smaller and smaller, which makes it harder for him to breathe.

Today he is early retired, as the disease makes it impossible for him to work a job with heavy physical work, as he quickly becomes winded.

He is approved to receive a lung transplant, when the disease worsens.

- I imagine that when I eventually get new lungs, I can breathe freely. There is no sensation of suffocation, says Heinrich Søndergaard Nielsen.

He is concerned that the ministry's letter and the legislative change have caused some to believe that they are automatically organ donors. This is not the case, as one must still go in and give permission.

- So one is still in the difficult situation of having to take a stance as a relative, if one does not oneself say yes or no, says he.

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More options when taking a stance on organ donation

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When you take a stance on organ donation, you have more options.

You can say:

* Yes to organ donation.

* I don't know. In that case, it can be your nearest who have to make a decision.

* You can give limited access, and select organs that for example may not be donated.

* No to organ donation.

* Organ donation may only take place with the approval of the relatives.

You can always change your mind and change your decision.

Source: Health Authority. (https://www.sst.dk/Organdonation)

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Continuing with campaigns

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According to Interior and Health Minister Sophie Løhde, we are not yet at our goal of getting enough Danish residents to take a stance.

The ministry informs that work is still being done on information campaigns to remind citizens that one is not an organ donor until one has been inside and confirmed one's yes.

- Information campaigns and ongoing reminders are a prerequisite for ensuring that Danish citizens are well-informed and can take a stance and know what it means, sounds from the ministry.

Interior and Health Minister Sophie Løhde (V) hopes that more will be motivated to take a stance on organ donation. (Photo: © Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix)

Regardless of whether one chooses to say yes or no to organ donation, it is important to make a decision, thinks Mie Munk, who is an intensive care nurse and donation responsible nurse at Rigshospitalet and the Danish Center for Organ Donation.

- If the patient has not taken a stance themselves, it can be very overwhelming for the relatives, and in addition, it is already a difficult situation, because there is grief associated with having to say goodbye, says she.

As a nurse, she is one of those who holds conversations with relatives about whether they should give permission for their loved one's organs to be donated.

- For those who have taken a stance, there is something lifted from the relatives, says Mie Munk.

In 2024, 433 patients received transplanted organs from Danish or foreign donors, according to figures from the Danish Center for Organ Donation.

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