Quick answer: In Norway, you are not automatically registered as an organ donor. You must make your wish known yourself. You do this in three ways: you register yourself in the central journal on helsenorge.no, you have a donor card, and you tell your family what you want. If your wish is known, it is your will that counts. Saying yes costs nothing for the family, and all major religions view organ donation as a good deed.
What Is Organ Donation in Norway?
Organ donation means that organs from a deceased person are given to someone who is seriously ill. Organs can be, for example, kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, or pancreas. A donor is the person who gives. A recipient is the person who needs a new organ to continue living.
The need is great. In Norway, several hundred people are on waiting lists for a new organ. For many, a transplant is the only way back to a normal life. One donor can save up to seven lives. This is why it is important that people think through what they themselves want and make their choice known.
All transplantation in Norway happens in one place: at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet. This has been the case since 1983. Around the country there are special donor hospitals. They report patients who could become donors. This is the core of organ donation in Norway.
It can feel difficult to think about your own death. But taking a stand on this is a gift to others. Many families also report that it is comforting to know what the deceased person themselves wanted. This makes a difficult day a little easier.
How Does Consent Work in Norway?
The rules are found in the Transplantation Act of 2015. Norway uses a model called presumed consent. This means that donation can occur if there are no signs that you were opposed to it.
But the law has another rule, and it is important: the closest family members are always asked. The family can say no, even when they are uncertain about what you would have wanted. This is why the law's main rule alone is not enough.
Another condition is brain death. Brain death means that the entire brain has stopped working permanently, and there is no way back. Doctors must establish this before donation is possible. Only a small minority of those who die die this way.
The hospital always speaks with the family in a calm and compassionate way. No one is pressured. The goal is to find out what you yourself would have wanted.
Here is the point for you: If you have made your wish clearly known, it is your will that counts. If the family knows that you said yes, they do not have to make a difficult decision in a difficult moment. Having control over your own body is part of your human rights. This is why you should both register your wish and talk to your closest family.
How to Say Yes to Organ Donation
It is easy to say yes to organ donation. You can do all three steps in a few minutes:
- Register yourself in the central journal. Log in to helsenorge.no and create a digital donor card. Your choice is then saved, and healthcare personnel can see that you are a central journal donor.
- Get a donor card. You can download the donor card app on your phone or print out a card on paper. The card shows what you have decided.
- Tell your family. This is the most important step of all. Tell your closest family members clearly that you want to be a donor.
If you would rather say no, you can register a reservation in the same place. Your choice will then be respected. You can change your mind at any time, both from yes to no and from no to yes.
Tip: have the conversation with your family in a calm moment, for example over dinner. It does not need to be formal. The most important thing is that your closest family members know what you think.
Who Can Become a Donor?
Almost everyone can say yes. There is no upper or lower age limit. Illness, old age, or regular medication does not stop you from stating your wish.
Whether organs can actually be used is assessed by doctors at the right time. They make the medical assessment – you do not need to think about your own health beforehand. From the age of 16, you decide for yourself. For children under 16 years of age, it is the parents who decide, but the child can say what it wants.
You do not need to be completely healthy to say yes. The most common organs that are donated are kidneys. Kidney failure is one of the most common reasons why someone is on a waiting list.
Does It Cost Anything? And What About Religion?
No. Being a donor costs nothing for you or the family. The law is clear: donation should not result in economic gain, and the family should not incur extra costs. If treatment takes longer because of the donation, the hospital can cover costs for, for example, food, accommodation, and travel. Then you contact the hospital where the donation took place.
Organ donation is for everyone. All major religions view it as a good and helpful deed. The law also protects beliefs: organs will not be taken if it would conflict with the faith or beliefs of the deceased. If the family wants help from a priest, imam, or other conversation partner, the hospital will arrange this. This is how organ donation in Norway is safe and equal for everyone.
Build Up Your Knowledge About Health and Society
Organ donation is part of the Norwegian health system. Transplantation is specialized treatment, that is, specialist health services – in the same way as when your doctor refers you further in the system.
You will also encounter such topics in the citizenship test. On SamfunnPrep you practice questions about health, rights, and how society fits together. With SamfunnPrep you learn the words and rules at a calm pace and in simple language.
Do you want to prepare safely? Get started with SamfunnPrep and practice the health and society section today.
