Dutch people speak out on animals as organ donors

In general, people in the Netherlands are open to research into using animals as organ donors if it significantly improves the lives of seriously ill patients. However, there must be a strong focus on animal welfare.

At present, no animals are being used for organ transplantation into humans in the Netherlands, but research into techniques that would make this possible is being conducted in several countries. This involves, for example, genetically modifying pigs to make a heart or kidney suitable for transplantation into a human. With another method, it may even be possible in the future to grow a human organ inside an animal. Both techniques could be a solution to the shortage of donor organs. There are currently nearly 1,300 Dutch people on the waiting list for a transplant.

At the same time, these techniques raise ethical and societal questions. To find out what questions and ideas people have, NEMO Kennislink and the Rathenau Instituut conducted group discussions with over 400 people, in which the Dutch Transplant Foundation was also involved. The results provide direction for debates on legislation and regulations.

Read more about the results and how they are used in thepress releaseor in thereport 'The animal as donor''.