Organ Donation, Brain Death and the Family: Valid Informed Consent

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana S. Iltis
Keyword(s):  
Informed Consent ◽  
Brain Death ◽  
Organ Donation ◽  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Organ Donor ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Organ Procurement Organization ◽  
The Family ◽  
Driver's License ◽  
Brain Dead

In July 2013, parents in Ohio objected to their 21-year-old son becoming an organ donor. Elijah Smith was involved in an accident and pronounced dead using neurological criteria. The organ procurement organization (OPO) went to court and argued that because the young man was brain dead and because his driver's license indicated that he wished to be a donor, the court should allow them to use his organs. The mother argued that her son did not understand what he was signing when he signed his license and that his signature did not reflect an informed decision. The court disagreed with her, saying that he had indicated a wish to donate his organs and that no one but Elijah could revoke that wish. His organs were removed.Elijah's mother suspected that he did not understand what he was signing. She might have been right, given what we know about the process for obtaining permission for organ donation and the limited public understanding of brain death.

Procurement after Brain Death

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eelco F.M. Wijdicks
Keyword(s):  
Brain Death ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Organ Donor ◽  
Close Monitoring ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Organ Perfusion ◽  
The Family ◽  
Brain Dead ◽  
Transplantation Coordinators

This chapter discusses the practice of organ procurement, including the family’s, physician’s, and organ procurement organization’s roles in this process. Procurement of donated organs is a major clinical undertaking requiring close monitoring and treatment by transplantation coordinators. Most importantly, consent for organ donation is discussed with the family, after the patient has been declared brain dead, and this chapter provides a thorough summary of these discussions. There are many physiological challenges to maintaining the viability of the organ donor, and these are discussed in detail. Each of the major physiological derangements and respective care are discussed. Medical management of the donor is aimed at anticipating the normal physiological changes with brain death and achieving optimal organ perfusion and minimizing ischemic injury.

Comparison of 1 vs 2 Brain Death Examinations on Time to Death Pronouncement and Organ Donation

Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 96 (10) ◽  
pp. e1453-e1461
Author(s):  
Panayiotis N. Varelas ◽  
Mohammed Rehman ◽  
Chandan Mehta ◽  
Lisa Louchart ◽  
Lonni Schultz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Death ◽  
Organ Donation ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Consent Rate ◽  
Organ Procurement Organization ◽  
Time To Death ◽  
Elapsed Time

ObjectiveTo fill the evidence gap on the value of a single brain death (SBD) or dual brain death (DBD) examination by providing data on irreversibility of brain function, organ donation consent, and transplantation.MethodsTwelve-year tertiary hospital and organ procurement organization data on brain death (BD) were combined and outcomes, including consent rate for organ donation and organs recovered and transplanted after SBD and DBD, were compared after multiple adjustments for covariates.ResultsA total of 266 patients were declared BD, 122 after SBD and 144 after DBD. Time from event to BD declaration was longer by an average of 20.9 hours after DBD (p = 0.003). Seventy-five (73%) families of patients with SBD and 86 (72%) with DBD consented for organ donation (p = 0.79). The number of BD examinations was not a predictor for consent. No patient regained brain function during the periods following BD. Patients with SBD were more likely to have at least 1 lung transplanted (p = 0.031). The number of organs transplanted was associated with the number of examinations (β coefficient [95% confidence interval] −0.5 [−0.97 to −0.02]; p = 0.044), along with age (for 5-year increase, −0.36 [−0.43 to −0.29]; p < 0.001) and PaO2 level (for 10 mm Hg increase, 0.026 [0.008–0.044]; p = 0.005) and decreased as the elapsed time to BD declaration increased (p = 0.019).ConclusionsA single neurologic examination to determine BD is sufficient in patients with nonanoxic catastrophic brain injuries. A second examination is without additional yield in this group and its delay reduces the number of organs transplanted.

Centralized Organ Procurement Organization Surgical Center: First 200 Brain Dead Organ Donor Transfer Experience.

2014 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 668
Author(s):  
R. Pietroski ◽  
P. Lange ◽  
N. Houghton ◽  
A. Kowalczyk ◽  
A. Trost ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Organ Donor ◽  
Organ Procurement Organization ◽  
Brain Dead

Organ Donor Care MAP: A Multidisciplinary Approach

1996 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 101-104
Author(s):  
Mary Holmquist
Keyword(s):  
Family Support ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Organ Donor ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Organ Procurement Organization ◽  
Potential Organ Donor ◽  
The Family

A Care Multidisciplinary Action Plan was developed at a 300-bed rural medical center in 1994. Once a potential organ donor is identified and referred to the organ procurement organization and the family has consented to donation, the ICU nurse initiates the Care Multidisciplinary Action Plan, which is based on an 8-hour time frame for ICU care that may be adjusted as needed. The first hour includes prompts for coroner notification, billing changes, and completion of hospital-specific death notice forms. The remaining hours are spent administering tests and preparing the donor for organ retrieval. Collaborative issues such as donor family support also are addressed. ICU nurses who used the donor care Multidisciplinary Action Plan were interviewed to determine its effectiveness.

The Timing Factor in the Consent Process

1996 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A Niles ◽  
Burton J Mattice
Keyword(s):  
Organ Donation ◽  
Medical Profession ◽  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Organ Donor ◽  
Apparent Difference ◽  
Next Of Kin ◽  
Consent Rate ◽  
Family Approach ◽  
The Family ◽  
Organ Procurement Organizations

Organ procurement organizations have been educating the medical profession on the importance of timing during the donation request process. Separating the request for donation from the notification of death has been encouraged when approaching families for consent for organ donation. This study evaluated the timing of the family approach and consent rates. A 23-month study was performed on all organ donor referrals in a 1.1 million population base. During the study period there were 203 referrals: 67 were medically unsuitable, next-of-kin was not available in 2 cases, 7 were coroner refusals, and 127 were suitable for donation. In this latter group, families were offered the option of organ donation. No apparent difference when donation was requested before or after the death pronouncement was found. Data indicated, however, that when the family is told of the death and is asked for donation simultaneously, the consent rate decreases 32% to 37%.

scholarly journals Gerência do cuidado de enfermagem ao paciente em morte encefálica

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1124
Author(s):  
Aline Lima Pestana Magalhães ◽  
Roberta Juliane Tono de Oliveira ◽  
Saulo Fabio Ramos ◽  
Milene Mendes Lobato ◽  
Neide Da Silva Knihs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Death ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Organ Donation ◽  
Nursing Care ◽  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Physical Structure ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Recursos Humanos ◽  
Brain Dead ◽  
The Brain

RESUMO Objetivo: compreender a gerência do cuidado de enfermagem aos pacientes em morte encefálica na perspectiva de enfermeiros atuantes no processo de doação e transplantes de órgãos. Método: trata-se de estudo qualitativo, fundamentado na Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados, com 25 enfermeiras. Obtiveram-se os dados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas individuais e se empregou a codificação aberta, axial e seletiva para análise dos dados. Resultados: emergiram-se duas categorias a partir da análise dos dados: << Observando as dificuldades relacionadas a gerência do cuidado de enfermagem ao paciente em morte encefálica >> e << Compreendendo as ações realizadas pela equipe de enfermagem na gerência do cuidado ao paciente em morte encefálica >>. Destacaram-se como dificuldades a limitação da estrutura física, recursos humanos e materiais. Enfatizaram-se pelos enfermeiros a monitorização e o suporte hemodinâmico, controle glicêmico e de diurese como ações necessárias para a gerência do cuidado ao paciente em morte encefálica. Conclusão: compreende-se que a gerência do cuidado ao paciente em morte encefálica requer entendimento para além das esferas técnicas sendo necessária a desmistificação do significado da doação de órgãos para manutenção de uma nova vida em outro alguém. Descritores: Obtenção de Tecidos e Órgãos; Transplante de Órgãos; Cuidados de Enfermagem; Cuidados Críticos; Morte Encefálica; Papel do Profissional de Enfermagem.ABSTRACT Objective: to understand the management of Nursing care to patients in brain death from the perspective of nurses working in the process of organ donation and transplants. Method: this is a qualitative study, based on the Data Based Theory, with 25 nurses. The data were obtained through individual semi-structured interviews and the open, axial and selective coding was used for data analysis. Results: two categories emerged from the analysis of the data: "Observing the difficulties related to the management of nursing care to the brain dead patient" and "Understanding the actions performed by the nursing team in the management of the brain dead patient's care. The limitations of physical structure and human and material resources were highlighted as difficulties. Monitoring and hemodynamic support, glycemic control and diuresis as necessary actions for the management of patient care in brain death were emphasized by the nurses. Conclusion: it is understood that the management of patient care in brain death requires understanding beyond the technical spheres, and it is necessary to demystify the meaning of organ donation for the maintenance of a new life in another person. Descriptors: Tissue and Organ Procurement; Organ Transplantation; Nursing Care; Critical Care; Brain Death; Nurse’s Role.RESUMEN Objetivo: comprender la gestión del cuidado de enfermería a los pacientes en muerte encefálica en la perspectiva de enfermeros actuantes en el proceso de donación y trasplantes de órganos. Método: se trata de un estudio cualitativo, fundamentado en la Teoría Fundamentada en los Datos, con 25 enfermeras. Se obtuvieron los datos por medio de entrevistas semiestructuradas individuales y se empleó la codificación abierta, axial y selectiva para análisis de los datos. Resultados: surgieron dos categorías a partir del análisis de los datos: << Observando las dificultades relacionadas a la gestión del cuidado de enfermería al paciente en muerte encefálica >> y << Comprendiendo las acciones realizadas por el equipo de enfermería en la gestión del cuidado al paciente en muerte encefálica >>. Se destacaron como dificultades la limitación de la estructura física, recursos humanos y materiales. Se enfatizaron por los enfermeros el monitoreo y el soporte hemodinámico, control glucémico y de diuresis como acciones necesarias para la gestión del cuidado al paciente en muerte encefálica. Conclusión: se comprende que la gestión del cuidado al paciente en muerte encefálica requiere entendimiento más allá de las esferas técnicas siendo necesaria la desmitificación del significado de la donación de órganos para el mantenimiento de una nueva vida en otro. Descriptores: Obtención de Tejidos y Órganos; Trasplante de Órganos; Atención de Enfermería; Cuidados Críticos; Muerte Encefálica; Rol de la Enfermera.

scholarly journals Experiencing organ donation: feelings of relatives after consent

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 895-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marli Elisa Nascimento Fernandes ◽  
Zélia Zilda Lourenço de Camargo Bittencourt ◽  
Ilka de Fátima Santana Ferreira Boin
Keyword(s):  
Organ Donation ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Organ Donor ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Potential Donor ◽  
Donation Process ◽  
The Family

Objective: to identify experiences and feelings on the organ donation process, from the perspective of a relative of an organ donor in a transplant unit.Method: this was exploratory research using a qualitative approach, performed with seven family members of different organ donors, selected by a lottery. Sociodemographic data and the experiences regarding the donation process were collected through semi-structured interviews. The language material was transcribed and submitted to content analysis.Results: poor sensitivity of the medical staff communicating the relative's brain death - the potential donor - and the lack of socio-emotional support prior to the situation experienced by the family was highlighted by participants.Conclusions: the study identified the need to provide social-emotional support for families facing the experience of the organ donation process. From these findings, other care and management practices in health must be discussed to impact the strengthening of the family ties, post-donation, as well as the organ procurement indexes.

scholarly journals Breakdown in the Organ Donation Process and Its Effect on Organ Availability

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manik Razdan ◽  
Howard B. Degenholtz ◽  
Jeremy M. Kahn ◽  
Julia Driessen
Keyword(s):  
Organ Donation ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Poisson Regression ◽  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Organ Donor ◽  
Organ Procurement Organization ◽  
Donation Process ◽  
Organ Recovery ◽  
Using Data

Background. This study examines the effect of breakdown in the organ donation process on the availability of transplantable organs. A process breakdown is defined as a deviation from the organ donation protocol that may jeopardize organ recovery.Methods. A retrospective analysis of donation-eligible decedents was conducted using data from an independent organ procurement organization. Adjusted effect of process breakdown on organs transplanted from an eligible decedent was examined using multivariable zero-inflated Poisson regression.Results. An eligible decedent is four times more likely to become an organ donor when there is no process breakdown (adjusted OR: 4.01; 95% CI: 1.6838, 9.6414;P<0.01) even after controlling for the decedent’s age, gender, race, and whether or not a decedent had joined the state donor registry. However once the eligible decedent becomes a donor, whether or not there was a process breakdown does not affect the number of transplantable organs yielded. Overall, for every process breakdown occurring in the care of an eligible decedent, one less organ is available for transplant. Decedent’s age is a strong predictor of likelihood of donation and the number of organs transplanted from a donor.Conclusion. Eliminating breakdowns in the donation process can potentially increase the number of organs available for transplant but some organs will still be lost.

scholarly journals Organ Donation and Declaration of Death: Combined Neurologic and Cardiopulmonary Standards

2019 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-296
Author(s):  
Stephen E. Doran ◽  
Joseph M. Vukov
Keyword(s):  
Brain Death ◽  
Organ Donation ◽  
Conflict Of Interest ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Organ Donors ◽  
Neurologic Injury ◽  
Brain Dead ◽  
Moral Certainty ◽  
Death By Neurologic Criteria

Prolonged survival after the declaration of death by neurologic criteria creates ambiguity regarding the validity of this methodology. This ambiguity has perpetuated the debate among secular and nondissenting Catholic authors who question whether the neurologic standards are sufficient for the declaration of death of organ donors. Cardiopulmonary criteria are being increasingly used for organ donors who do not meet brain death standards. However, cardiopulmonary criteria are plagued by conflict of interest issues, arbitrary standards for candidacy, and the lack of standardized protocols for organ procurement. Combining the neurological and cardiopulmonary standards into a single protocol would mitigate the weaknesses of both and provide greater biologic and moral certainty that a donor of unpaired vital organs is indeed dead. Summary: Before a person’s organs can be used for transplantation, he or she must be declared “brain-dead.” However, sometimes when someone is declared brain-dead, that person can be maintained on life-support for days or even weeks. This creates some confusion about whether the person has truly died. For patients who have a severe neurologic injury but are not brain-dead, organ donation can also occur after his or her heart stops beating. However, this protocol is more ambiguous and lacks standardized protocols. We propose that before a person can donate organs, he or she must first be declared brain-dead, and then his or her heart must irreversibly stop beating before organs are taken.

Family perspectives on organ and tissue donation for transplantation: A principlist analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1041-1050
Author(s):  
Marcelo José dos Santos ◽  
Lydia Feito
Keyword(s):  
Organ Donation ◽  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
Tissue Donation ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Donation Process ◽  
The Family ◽  
Organ Procurement Organizations ◽  
Family Interview

Background: The family interview context is permeated by numerous ethical issues which may generate conflicts and impact on organ donation process. Objective: This study aims to analyze the family interview process with a focus on principlist bioethics. Method: This exploratory, descriptive study uses a qualitative approach. The speeches were collected using the following prompt: “Talk about the family interview for the donation of organs and tissues for transplantation, from the preparation for the interview to the decision of the family to donate or not.” For the treatment of qualitative data, we chose the method of content analysis and categorical thematic analysis. Participants: The study involved 18 nurses who worked in three municipal organ procurement organizations in São Paulo, Brazil, and who conducted family interviews for organ donation. Ethical considerations: The data were collected after approval of the study by the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Nursing of the University of São Paulo. Results: The results were classified into four categories and three subcategories. The categories are the principles adopted by principlist bioethics. Discussion: The principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice permeate the family interview and reveal their importance in the organs and tissues donation process for transplantation. Conclusion: The analysis of family interviews for the donation of organs and tissues for transplantation with a focus on principlist bioethics indicates that the process involves many ethical considerations. The elucidation of these aspects contributes to the discussion, training, and improvement of professionals, whether nurses or not, who work in organ procurement organizations and can improve the curriculum of existing training programs for transplant coordinators who pursue ethics in donation and transplantation as their foundation.

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