Rigshospitalet Declined 10 Donor Livers Over Capacity Shortages

Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen declined ten donor livers over the past year. Staff shortages caused the hospital to turn away these organs. The rejected organs included three livers for children and seven for adults.

Health news outlet Sundhedsmonitor reported the new figures first. The Capital Region of Denmark provided the data to a regional council member. The livers came through Scandiatransplant, a Nordic organ sharing network. This network links Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Estonia.

Hospital leaders said declining pediatric livers is not unusual. Rigshospitalet is not staffed for round-the-clock pediatric liver surgeries. However, three university hospitals in Sweden and Norway reported zero rejections. They never turned down a liver due to capacity limits.

Rigshospitalet performed seven pediatric liver transplants so far this year. It completed between four and twelve each year from 2021 to 2025. Hospital officials say these numbers match other Nordic countries.

Regional politicians recently announced an external review of the department. Rigshospitalet operates Denmark's only liver transplant unit. The review follows recent doctor departures and patient safety concerns. Two surgeons left earlier this year. Five senior doctors expressed safety concerns to management. Public broadcaster DR reported three of those doctors are now leaving.