Neues zur organverteilung: das transplantationsgesetz und die folgen

The article describes and discusses changes in the practices of organ allocation which result from the implementation of the pertinent stipulations of the German Transplant Act from 1997. Both the levels of admission to a waiting list and of selection from such a list once a donor organ becomes available are covered. Since the law contains various rather odd clauses, the most important of which is the (logically and practically infeasible) requirement that organs be allocated exclusively according to medical criteria, it is not surprising that these oddities translate themselves into the respective policies as well. Several of them are laid bare. Finally, suggestions are made as to how they could be remedied.