The German government plans to increase the number of organ donors by appointing organ transplant co-ordinators in major hospitals to identify potential donor and to negotiate with relatives. Organ donation has been in the news in Germany after former Social Democrat foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier donated a kidney to his wife.

Like everywhere else, Germany has a shortfall in organ donation, but the government is reluctant to introduce an automatic opt-in system. The German health minister, Philipp Rösler, said, “I am not in favour of using any sort of pressure,” he said. “Organ donation should always be a free and deliberate decision.” Spain has an extensive network of coordinators which has made it a world leader in donation rates. ~ BMJ, Sept 1