Only people who die of head injuries caused by accidents, coronary thrombosis or cerebral haemorrhage can become donors. There is also a requirement that death occurred while the patient was in one of the country’s 28 donor hospitals. In principle there is no lower or upper age limit for donors.
We have seven organs that we can donate: one heart, two lungs, two kidneys, one liver and one pancreas. When you inform your family of your attitude to donation, you can also specify which organs you are willing to donate.
In cases of donation, health workers should always ask the relatives if they are aware of the deceased’s attitude to donation. If the deceased had taken a positive decision, either verbally or in writing, in the form of a donor card for example, this should be the basis for the donation procedure. If relatives are still very negative regarding the donation, the doctor responsible for donations can under certain circumstances reject the deceased’s wish.
If the relatives state that they do not know of the deceased’s attitude to donations but they themselves are not against it, the donation can be carried out.
In cases where the deceased’s attitude to donations is negative, the donation will not take place even if the relatives are in favour of it.