Evaluation of the Dutch Organ Donation Act: mostly disappointments

In 1998, the Organ Donation Act became effective in the Netherlands. From the recent evaluation of this act, it appears that one of its important goals, the increase in organ donation, has not been achieved. The number of organ donations has decreased. Only one-third of the Dutch adult population has responded to the request to register in the Central Organ Donor Registry. All people aged 18 years and older are sent a form on which they can indicate whether or not they consent to donating their organs after death. When a non-registered person dies, the relatives will refuse organ donation in at least 75% of the cases. The most important means for improving this situation are the implementation of a presumed consent law, special attention to public education on the principle of reciprocity (quid pro quo), and an improvement of the procurement programs in the donor hospitals.