Abstract

Living organ donation is developing increasingly into an important therapeutic option in transplantation medicine. In spite of the existence of a normative-legal frame, medico-ethical questions remain open. Among these are in particular 1) who should be taken into consideration as a donor, 2) how information concerning the possibility of living organ donation should be passed on, and 3) what an adequate medical-psychosocial evaluation of potential donors should look like. The paper presents the results of a survey based on questionnaires, which addresses the current practice in German transplantation centers as well as the opinions of clinical practioners regarding these three topics. The empirical data form the context for the formulation of medico-ethical ideas and suggestions concerning living organ donation in Germany.