In Luxembourg, all deceased persons are potential organ donors. This means that if you object to having your organs removed after your death, you must state your objection in writing, during your lifetime.

To that end, a donor card, known as a 'Passport to Life', was introduced by the Ministry of Health.

There are two advantages to having your wish or refusal to be a donor recorded on the small organ donor card:

• it ill facilitate the task of medical teams and caregivers;
• in the event of an untimely death, it will provide emotional relief to the people close to you during a difficult time.

Who is concerned

All potential donors who legally reside in Luxembourg may specify whether or not they wish to be an organ donor. There is no age limit for donating one's organs after death.

As a reminder, organ donation is an act that is:

• anonymous: the law guarantees the anonymity of the donor and the recipient. The family of the donor may be informed about the organs that were removed, as well as the result of the transplants;
• free: any compensation in consideration for one or more organs is prohibited by law;
• an act of solidarity, which can save lives.

An organ may only be removed if the last legal domicile of the deceased was in Luxembourg.

When the deceased was disabled or a minor, their organs may only be removed with the authorisation of their legal representative, and provided that the concerned person, if they were capable of exercising judgement, did not express their objection to donating their organs.

Any person, even a minor, may express their objection to donating their organs, provided that they are capable of exercising judgement.

If the deceased person is a minor and the parents exercised their joint parental authority, organ removal is only possible if both parents give their consent.

How to proceed

The 'Passport to Life' organ donor card is free, and can be obtained at:

• pharmacies;
• doctors' offices;
• communal administration offices;
• the reception desk of Guichet.lu;
• the Ministry of Health;
• Luxtransplant.

The card may also be ordered online.

Once the card is received, the holder simply needs to fill in the different fields and specify the organ donor status of their choice.

The decision recorded on the "Passport to Life" is neither:

• registered with an official office;
• nor filed with an official office.

Note that anything in writing that indicates an authorisation or refusal to have one's organs removed after death is equivalent to a 'Passport to Life'.

Forms / Online services

Who to contact