New regulations on organ transplantation in Denmark have led to an additional 34 individuals receiving organ transplants this year, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Health (Indenrigs- og Sundhedsministeriet). The updated rules now allow for transplants to occur after cardiac death, a significant change from the previous practice that permitted transplantation only after brain death, which necessitated that the donor be kept alive on a ventilator.
Cardiac death is the most common cause of death, occurring when both breathing and heart function cease, which increases the availability of organs for transplantation. Minister of the Interior and Health Sophie Løhde expressed satisfaction with this development, as it enables more critically ill patients to receive the life-saving organs they urgently need.
The Minister emphasized that advancements in both medical and technological fields have been crucial in facilitating this expansion of the donor pool. These changes stem from a law passed in the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) in 2019, which came into effect practically last year. The Ministry confirms that both the new regulations and medical progress have played an essential role in increasing the number of organs available for transplantation. This development has the potential to save many lives in the future.