Physician Frank-Peter Nitschke and his colleague Axel Manecke work for the German Organ Transplantation Foundation, coordinating organ donations. When the telephone rings in their office in Rostock, it is the start of a race against time - persuading relatives, organizing the removal of the organs, and speedy transport to the recepients hospital.  Clinics are desparate for organs and the Dutch coordinating center, Eurotransplant, is in charge of deciding where each organ will be used. Even organs which are slightly abnormal, old, or fatty can be successfully transplanted. "There just aren't enough to go around," the physicians explain. Dr. Nitschke and Dr. Manecke are the recipients of an outpouring of gratitude following successful transplants. A dozen letters a week reach the physicians, with thanks being passed on to the families of the deceased donors.

LEARN MORE:

Visit the United States' government website - Donate Life - to learn more about becoming an organ donor today.

For a more comprehensive look at organ donations, check out The United Network for Organ Sharing.

In Focus documentaries and reports cover business and science, culture and education, historical and present day events as well as sports and leisure. This wide variety of topics is investigated in depth and presented in an informative format, making for captivating television, courtesy of Germany's Deutsche Welle news network.