HSBA Research: Discussion on organ donation: Will the introduction of an opt-out system lead to more organ donations?

In her doctoral thesis, HSBA Professor Dr Sinika Studte examined prosocial behaviour, in particular donor motivation and donor relationship management in blood and organ donations. Germany currently applies the so-called consent principle (opt-in), but the introduction of an opt-out system is once again being discussed* because donor numbers are relatively low compared to other countries.

A study published in the PNAS Nexus (The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America) journal, in which Prof. Studte collaborated, was recently published. The study, entitled ‘Crowding-out effects of opt-out defaults: Evidence from organ donation policies’, is relevant to the current discussion because it shows that the introduction of an opt-out system cannot spontaneously improve the tense situation in organ donation and is not a panacea.

"Our study has shown that an opt-out system alone cannot significantly increase donor numbers, which is due in particular to a kind of “crowding-out effect”: while donations after death increase by an average of 7 per cent, living donations decrease by up to 29 per cent, so that the system change planned in Germany does not actually result in more organs being available. Given that more than 8,000 people in Germany were on the waiting list for a donor organ last year, it is particularly important to provide information. The need to donate organs definitely remains – regardless of the system in place," said Prof. Dr. Sinika Studte.

‘We are delighted if our study can contribute to a constructive and fact-based political debate. Scientific findings are crucial for shaping policy and political measures responsibly and on the basis of evidence, rather than relying on mere assumptions.’

Sinika Studte has been Professor of General Business Administration at HSBA in the Marketing Transformation Department since April 2022. She completed her doctorate on the topic of ‘Donor Motivation and Donor Relationship Management – Essays on Prosocial Behaviour’ at the Chair of Marketing & Media at the University of Hamburg under Professor Clement.

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Bundesrat Antrag Transplantationsgeseetz
Gesetzentwurf des Bundesrates