Europeans and organ donation

A special Eurobarometer study has just been released.

Europeans and Organ Donation

It compares the attitudes to organ donations and transplantations in 2002 in the 15 EU member countries and again in 2006 in the 25 EU countries after the enlargement. 28,584 persons participated in the survey that addressed the following questions:

1. Have these subjects already been discussed in your family circle?
2. How do Europeans feel about organ donations from a personal point of view, that is their willingness to donate an organ after their death? Would Europeans agree to donate an organ from a deceased close family member?
3. What are Europeans opinions about organ donation cards?

The European Commission ordered this study "because of the success of organ transplantations, the number of patients on waiting lists for organ transplantations is growing far more quickly than the number of donors, despite the fact that there are more and more donors." One of the grave consequences of these trends is that pressure is put on people living in poverty to sell their organs.

Family discussions
Some 41% of European citizens have raised the question of organ donations or transplantations with their family, whereas 58% have not. Generally speaking the EU15 countries have discussed it more than the newcomers. But there are also significant differences amongst the old members: 75% of the Dutch citizens and 68% of the Swedish have discussed the topic compared with 28% of the Portuguese and 24% of the Austrians. The socio-demographic analysis reveals differences between men and women, age groups, education and profession. More women than men had discussed it, the 25-54 discusses the subject more than the youth and surprisingly also more than 55+. The longer the education and the higher the position, the more likely it is that the question has been discussed.

Donating one's own organs
Some 56% are willing to donate one of their organs after their death and 26% are not. There are significant geographical differences, where the northern European countries are more likely to envisage a scenario where they would donate an organ: Sweden 81%, Finland & Belgium 73%, Netherlands & Denmark 69%; whereas the Eastern Europeans are more reluctant: 39% in the Czech Republic and 47% in Austria are against. There are not any significant differences with regards to gender or age on this question, but once again the more educated the more likely to be willing to donate an organ. Whether or not the topic had been discussed at home has a strong influence of whether individuals will donate their organs.

Donating an organ from a deceased close family member
The majority of Europeans would donate an organ to a close family member. In 2002 46% said yes and in 2006 54% would give their consent, an increase by 8 points. Germany is interesting, as the Germans have a high score with regards to already having discussed the subject with their family (41%), but are below average regarding the willingness to donate organs. Otherwise education is once again the decisive factor.

Organ Donation Cards
The aim of an organ donation card is to make clear the deceased person's wishes and thereby help families with giving consent to donations or refusing them. Some 81% are in favour of the use of such cards, but they are still relatively rare. Only 12% have an organ donation card. In Holland 44% have one, 30% of the Swedes, 29% of the Iris and 26% of the British. At the other end of the scale are Cyprus, Czech Republic, Slovakia and the Baltic countries all with 1%. Women are more likely to have a card than men, and the higher the education the more likely you are to have an organ donation card.

Conclusion of Eurobarometer survey on organ donation
The Survey concludes with the following statement: "It is therefore probable that an enhanced public debate on this question, for example via communication campaigns will have very positive consequences - in the short or medium term - on the population's acceptance of organ donations."

The survey is enlightening in many respects; of particular interest are the socio-demographic perspectives that reveal different geographical, gender, and educational patterns. However, the conclusion suggests more campaigns, not just to stimulate discussions at home, but also to make EU citizens donate their organs. There is an important difference between information from which people may freely make their decisions regarding a complex medical and psychological endeavour as this is, and campaigns with a more or less hidden agenda. To donate means "to give freely" or "to give as a gift" - and it is in this spirit that donation surveys, information and campaigns should take place.

Source of Information
"Europeans and organ donation", Eurobarometer survey May 2007

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