Defining death in non-heart beating organ donors. Issue 3 (1st June 2003)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zamperetti, N; Bellomo, R; Ronco, C
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical ethics. Volume 29:Issue 3(2003)
• Page Start: 182
• Page End: 185
• Publication Date: 2003-06-01
• Subjects: organ donation -- definition of death -- non-heart beating organ donors; Medical ethics -- Periodicals; 174.2
• DOI: 10.1136/jme.29.3.182
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-6800

Abstract

Abstract : Protocols for retrieving vital organs in consenting patients in cardiovascular arrest (non-heart beating donors, NHBD) rest on the assumptions that irreversible asystole a) identifies the instant of biological death, and b) is clinically assessable at the time when retrieval of vital organs is possible. Unfortunately both assumptions are flawed. We argue that traditional life/death definitions could be actually inadequate to represent the reality of dying under intensive support, and we suggest redefining NHBD protocols on moral, social, and antrhopological criteria, admitting that irreversible (however defined) asystole can only equate a clinically determinable point of no return in the process of dying, where organ retrieval can be morally and socially accepted in previously consenting patients.