Organ donation in Austria: Everyone can save lives - act now!

Organ donation in Austria: Everyone can save lives - act now!

Kirchdorf an der Krems, Österreich - In Austria, the topics of organ donation and transplantation are currently more in focus than ever. According to current figures, a total of 637 organs were transplanted in 2024, while over 800 patients on a waiting list are waiting for their chance of a new life. An increase in waiting list payments is a sign that the topic of urgency requires. The President of the Austrian General Practitioner Association, Angelika Reitböck, also agrees that written will of will be important for organ donation in order to give relatives in difficult times. It is not uncommon for incidence and uncertainty to reject donations when it comes to decision -making.

The most common transplanted organs in Austria are kidneys, followed by the liver, lungs, heart and pancreas. The complex procedures that are used in organ donation and transplant require a lot of specialist knowledge and comprehensive logistics. Alexander Lang, medical director of the Pyhrn Eisenwurz Clinic, emphasizes that organ donation is an act of humanity. The entire process, including brain death diagnostics and the relevant medical criteria, must be meticulously observed to ensure the best possible chance of success.

experiences of a transplanted

Franz Wasserbauer, a 64-year-old man who received both a kidney and a pancreas 20 years ago, tells of his way to a transplant. After years of fighting kidney failure, which he was able to delay out for seven years thanks to diets and movement, he ultimately had to undergo the double transplant. Today he leads almost a normal life and is actively working in the self -help association "Kidney Upper Austria" to support and share experiences.

A look at the waiting lists

The waiting lists who have a steady increase are particularly worrying. In Germany, the number of waiting list patients for kidney donations, unlike in Austria, is continuously declining. This could be attributed to the different system of organ donation: Austria relies on the contradiction solution (opt-out), while Germany uses an opt-in system. The latter often leads to less available donor organs and thus to a higher number of waiting people who have to hope for transplants. This topic ensures lively discussions, in particular about the decent handling in practice, as explained on WartePatient.de

The challenges in organ transplantation are diverse. There is a guaranteed availability for no organ; The condition, medical compatibility and the time window are decisive factors. In addition, the age of the donor does not matter - the quality of the organs can vary. This shows once again how important it is to deal with organ donation during his lifetime and perhaps also show personal commitment.

We can all help by finding out, thinking and becoming active where possible. Organ donation can save the lives of others, and Franz Wasserbauer has more than once proven this. In this sense it says: thinking and acting - because life can sometimes depend on a single organ.