As someone who has received a life-saving kidney transplant, Prince Daniel knows firsthand the importance of organ donation. Now the Swedish prince will share his personal experiences as he takes part in an episode of SVT’s “Ask the Doctor” show on Monday, 26 August.
The popular show features host Suzanne Axell and Dr Karin Granberg. On the programme, the Prince will meet with two people who have gone through Sweden’s new kidney replacement programme.
Prince Daniel fell seriously ill just a few months after his engagement to Crown Princess Victoria in 2009. After going through dialysis treatment, he was fortunate enough to receive a compatible kidney from his father, Olle Westling, who now sits on the board of the Kidney Association. His transplant surgery was a success, and today, the Prince lives a completely normal life, but many Swedes are not able to find a match so easily.
Since Prince Daniel was ill, a new kidney donation programme was created in Sweden, helping to eliminate the long waits some patients must endure to find a matching donor. The episode of Ask the Doctor will discuss the new programme and highlight the importance of organ donation.
Prince Daniel is passionate about organ donation and sharing his story, but he wasn’t always that way. “In the beginning, I didn’t think it was very fun to talk about and it felt private, but I have realised that I need to be able to contribute in any way I can,” Prince Daniel said in an interview with magazine Dagens Industri. “My message is that if you are willing to receive an organ for yourself … then you must also be willing to give. Actually, it’s that simple.”
Unfortunately, Prince Daniel shared in an interview with Svensk Dam that only 15 per cent of Swedes have signed up for the donation register, even though 85 per cent say they want to donate. “So there is a difference between what you want and what you do,” he said. “I think it is very important to take a stand. And as we have heard here today, you can save up to eight lives if you are willing to donate.”
The episode of Ask the Doctor will be able to view worldwide and will stream on the SVT Play website through February 2020.
