Mass donor organ fraud shakes Germany

German medical authorities are calling for an extensive overhaul of the country’s organ transplant programme after transplant centres across Germany were placed under criminal investigation over allegations that they had systematically manipulated donor waiting lists. Scores of patients are believed to have been given priority access to donor organs after doctors falsified the severity of their illnesses to ensure they received treatment ahead of other patients in Europe, according to ” The Guardian”. The revelations have led to accusations of widespread corruption and dishonesty in the system, and shattered public trust. Since the scandal emerged last year as a handful of cases that were initially believed to be isolated incidents, the number of Germans willing to donate organs has plummeted. Post-death donations have dropped by between 20% and 40%, according to the German foundation for organ transplantation (DSO), which said the public’s faith had been “massively shaken”. Investigations across the country have revealed that in at least four clinics, patient data was distorted or falsified in order to improve patients’ chances of getting an organ. At least 107 cases of obvious manipulation have come to light so far.