A modified “spanish model” for organ donation in the southeast region of sweden

Abstract

THE shortage of organ donors in the limiting factor for organ transplantation in Europe and North America. The organ donation rate in Sweden has been declining from about 16 donors per million inhabitants (pmp) in 1988 to fewer than 12 pmp in 1996, despite changes in the legislation and national information campaigns from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. (In July 1996 a new law implementing presumed consent, donor cards, and a national donor registry was adopted.) Over the corresponding 10-year time period the organ donation rate in Spain increased from 14 donors pmp to 30. Spain has now the highest donor rate pmp in the world. The Spanish model includes the appointment of doctors (“Co-ordinators”), fullor part-time, with responsibility for the process of organ donation in each hospital with a potential for organ donation. Because of the declining donation rate we decided to implement parts of the “Spanish model” for organ donation locally in all hospitals as a project in Sweden’s southeast region.