In Luxembourg, it is regulated by law that everyone is a potential organ donor unless they have expressed opposition to it in written form. However, this is not always straightforward process in reality. Often relatives are asked what the will of the affected person is. If that is not known or has not been retained in written form, the decision is up to the relatives in question.
According to the latest figures provided by Minister of Social Security Claude Haagen in response to a parliamentary enquiry, only 3% of Luxembourg residents have expressed opposition to organ donations in written form.
Luxembourg does not have an official list of organ donors. The respective decision can however be retained in the so-called ‘life passport’. Here people can indicate whether their organs are to be donated and whom to contact in case of an emergency. That way people can ensure that their final wishes end up being respected.
It is important to always carry this card along and inform relatives about one’s decisions.
In principle, everyone can become an organ donor. There is no age limit, but in the end all depends on whether certain physical aspects of donor and recipient align.
There are a number of situations that allow for organs to be donated. In the majority of cases, the donor in question is considered braindead following a severe trauma that has prevented enough oxygen from reaching the brain. The body can then be kept alive through artificial means so that organs can be harvested and donated.
In rare cases, organs can still be harvested after a cardiac arrest. There are also organs that are not vital and can therefore be donated while still alive.
Organ donations are fully anonymous and free for the recipient.
Last year, eight multi organ harvests were carried out in Luxembourg. Two donations were made in 2021, three in 2022, and five in 2019. A total of 38 organs from Luxembourg have been donated in the context of ‘Eurotransplant’ programmes.
The above figures were provided by the non-profit Luxtransplant.
Listen here to the Lisa Burke Show where she talks to Christiane Bourg, who set up Protransplant after her father was given the gift of increased life due to a liver transplant, after being suddenly diagnosed with liver cancer with a mere 8 weeks to live.
