Correlation of effective organ procurement rates and the role of legislation in individual European countries

Purpose: Clinical transplantation has proven to be a lifesaving method since the last century. The shortage of donors and organs pool for transplantation is a worldwide subject of discussion and legislation. Design/Methodology/Approach: Authors did a critical review and identified actual donation models in individual European countries. Findings: Critical revision of the distribution of donation models in individual European countries were presented: no country has chosen the model of strict consent, 18 countries adopted a model of opt-out, of which 13 were based on a strict model of opposition, and five decided to use an extended opposition system. The extended consent model was adopted in 1/3 of European countries (14 countries), three European countries adopted the information solution, Bulgaria is the only country adopting a higher necessity model. Authors identified in European countries opt-in to opt-out movement trend and “hard” presumed consent paradox. Practical implications: Different models adopted in European countries and the shortage of organs for transplantation implicate some countries' transfer from opt-in to an opt-out model. It can benefit in increasing organ pool. Originality/value: The article includes the first complex and critical analysis of effective organ procurement and legislation models in European countries.
peer-reviewed