Organ donation - fill in the card

With an organ donor card you can

• consent to the removal of organs or tissue after your death,
• object to it,
• Restrict your consent to certain organs or tissues or
• transfer the decision to relatives or trusted persons.

Note: The general determination of death in the event of respiratory and cardiac arrest can be made by any doctor. However, the prerequisite for organ donation is a diagnosis of irreversible loss of brain function (formerly: "brain death"). This is linked to binding, particularly strict guidelines. Two experienced intensive care physicians, one of whom must be a neurologist or neurosurgeon, must document the diagnosis precisely after extensive clinical and instrumental examinations.

Your organ donor card remains valid for as long as you wish. When you fill in an organ donor card, your personal details are not registered. You can therefore change your decision at any time by destroying your card or filling in a new one (for example, with a modified consent to the removal of certain organs).

Talk to your close relatives about your attitude to organ donation so that they are aware of your decision and can act in your favour if necessary.

Please note: Your health insurance company is obliged to inform you regularly about organ and tissue donation from the age of 16. It must provide you with suitable information documents. The health insurance company will ask you to document your position on organ and tissue donation (preferably in an organ donor card). The organ donation information hotline can answer your questions free of charge from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 0800 90 40 400. Or contact your family doctor. Please remember to include your position on organ donation in your living will. Because the organ donation declaration is voluntary, but important.