Guaranteeing anonymity in donation and transplantation
It is legally established that organ and tissue donation after death in the Netherlands is anonymous. Therefore, care is important when publishing data or stories about donation or transplantation.
Legal framework for anonymity
In the Body Material Decree 2006 (art. 9.1 paragraph 2) it is established that organ and tissue donation after death in the Netherlands is anonymous.
'The identity of the recipient is not disclosed to the donor or their family, and vice versa.'
We therefore do everything we can to protect the privacy of donors, surviving relatives, and recipients.
Why is anonymity so important?
The government wants to protect recipients and surviving relatives from negative consequences of mutual contact.
Recipients and surviving relatives sometimes have expectations that are not met, leading to disappointment. Also, a personal meeting can be unexpectedly emotionally taxing for both the patient and the donor's surviving relatives.
Surviving relatives therefore never receive personal information about recipients. Patients also do not receive any information about the donor from their doctor.
Help prevent traceability
Are you a journalist, communication advisor in a hospital, or donation or transplantation professional? Then you can help prevent traceability between donor and recipient. Avoid specific and personal details when creating or telling a story about organ donation.
Three tips
- Do not mention full names
- Do not mention specific donation or transplantation dates
- Omit special circumstances surrounding the donation or transplantation
Starting points for publishing data
The NTS has established principles for publishing figures on organ or tissue donation and transplantation. To prevent traceability, we only publish aggregated data.
For the press
Are you working on a publication about donation or transplantation? Are you looking for information or do you have questions?