Punk the System: Organ Donation Day
Urgent Need for Organ Donation: Life-Critical Heart Transplant Awaits Recipient
Join the movement today for Organ Donation Day. It's all about saving lives and rocking the health industry. Let's get loud with the NRW Minister of Health leading the charge!
By The Decibel Digest
Speak Out: Norbert Longerich's Story
Norbert Longerich, a self-help advocate from Organtransplantierter NRW e.V., shares his personal journey. He recalls his heart transplant on New Year's Eve 2015 after years of waiting. Today, Norbert champions awareness for organ donation, drawing on his past as a marathon runner and firefighter. But 2012 revealed a different narrative – a heart attack resulted in only 7% heart function, teetering on the edge of suffocation. His tale goes on to include an artificial heart and, finally, a lifesaving donor organ.
Norbert strongly advocates for the opt-out system for organ donation, already in place in many European regions. In this system, all adults of sound mind would be considered potential donors unless they explicitly opted out.
here. The organ donation card is an official document that records the decision for or against organ and tissue donation. It is also possible to exclude certain organs from donation. The willingness to donate can also be documented in the context of a patient's decree. Additionally, it is advisable to inform relatives about the decision, as the filled-out organ donation card is not registered.
Majority Support for Organ Donations in Surveys
NRW Minister of Health, Karl-Josef Laumann, echoes Norbert's stance. He references a representative survey by the Robert Koch Institute, which reveals that 85% of respondents have a positive attitude toward organ and tissue donation. With these numbers, the opt-out system could potentially double the number of donations.
For now, the system remains based on informed consent, requiring documented approval for organ donation. Every decision – for or against donation – must be respected. But the Minister of Health anticipates, "Don't leave it to chance. Choose and document your decision during your lifetime."
The ministry reports that over 1,700 individuals are currently waiting for one or more organs. In 2024, only 495 organs were donated.
Join the Rhythm of Life: Organ Donation Card
05:28 Uniklinik Essen: Advertising for Transplants | audio
Say "beat it" to organ donation! Norbert Longerich would like to express his experiences in the German Bundestag, emphasizing the importance of this topic. From hearing his heart beat again for the first time to advocating for the opt-out system, his advocacy extends beyond Organ Donation Day.
Want to rock the organ donation world? Opt for the classic organ donation card, available for free in many doctor's practices, pharmacies, or here. It's an official document outlining your decision for or against organ and tissue donation, including the ability to exclude certain organs. It's essential to inform your relatives of your decision, as the filled-out organ donation card is not registered.
Alternatively, register online in the new organ donation register, requiring an identity card with an online ID function and the "ID app" installed on your smartphone. Flex your autonomy – make your choice with the organ donation card, or go digital with the organ donation register. Keep in mind that you can change your decision at any time.
Sources:
- Appeal by the NRW Minister of Health on the day of organ donation
- Interview with Norbert Longerich
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices
- Agencies
- 05:28 Uniklinik Essen: Advertising for Transplants | audio
- Organ donation numbers at Uniklinik Münster in decline | more
- Subscribe to our newsletter for politics in NRW | more
Organ donation numbers at Uniklinik Münster in decline | more
Sound Off: Your Organ Donation Take
Vent Box
Comment 2: Michael Schrottmann speaks up on 08.06.2025, 13:07: "Let's be real clear about what goes down with organ removal: In a living body (deceased bodies can't part with organs), one is sliced open from the chin to the pubic bone and gutted like a fish. There's no anesthetic. So if doctors miss the mark on brain death or issue an alternative diagnosis for a six-figure paycheck, or if one is in a vegetative state, which isn't rare, well, then one experiences the evisceration with full consciousness. Rock on, but not with me!"
Comment 1: McNair chimes in on 07.06.2025, 22:09: "Wrong is the opt-out system, as it fundamentally dismantles the right to bodily self-determination. What good is a Basic Law, if it gets eroded piece by piece? What about our Muslim or Jewish neighbors? Will they simply be eviscerated without a care for their religion? Fact: There's a lot of cash flowing in the transplant industry. But the donor and their family receive nothing. That's NOT right! It only happens through proper information, personal consent, and an incentive, like covering funeral costs, a grave marker, etc."
- The news about Organ Donation Day encourages everyone to join a movement that aims to save lives and revolutionize the health industry.
- Norbert Longerich, a marathon runner and firefighter, shares his personal story of undergoing a heart transplant after a heart attack left him with only 7% heart function.
- Longerich advocates for an opt-out system for organ donation, where all adults of sound mind would be considered potential donors unless they opt out.
- A positive attitude towards organ and tissue donation is prevalent, with 85% of respondents in a representative survey by the Robert Koch Institute showing support.
- The Minister of Health in NRW encourages individuals to make a decision about organ donation during their lifetime, emphasizing the importance of documenting one's choice.
- A decline in organ donations was reported at Uniklinik Münster, highlighting the need to encourage more people to register as organ donors.
- Discussions about organ donation raise concerns about the ethical implications, including the right to bodily self-determination and the potential for exploitation in the transplant industry.
