Organ donation more normal for young adults; 72 percent sign up

The number of 18 year olds who chose to register as a potential organ donor has been steadily increasing in the last few years. Last year 72 percent of the young adults registered that they are willing to make their organs available when they die, compared to 53 percent in 2003.

This is according to figures released by the Netherlands Transplant Foundation, AD reports. According to the Foundation, the increase can be attributed to their campaign to encourage young people to register.

Registering in the donor registry does not automatically mean that you are now an organ donor. You can also indicate that you wish to keep your organs or want to leave the decision to your next of kin. 61 percent of all Dutch people are currently registered as potential organ donors.

According to the Foundation, 1,044 patients were on the waiting list to receive a donor organ on January 1st this year, compared to 1,149 on the same date in 2014. Every year about 140 of these patients die while waiting for an organ.