Oral Abstract O40 ORGAN DONATION AFTER CARDIAC DEATH
Conference theme: Patient & Carers Experience of Critical Care Author K. Dalley1, J Coles1 1 St George’s Hospital, London While practice of organ donation following brain stem death is well established in the UK, it is not a big growth area. In order to increase the number of organs available for transplantation, we are increasingly asked to focus on non-heart-beating donation, now known as donation after cardiac death, or DCD, which can occur following planned withdrawal of treatment in the A&E or ICU (DH 2008). This session will explore the complexities and pitfalls of identification of suitable potential donors. Using example cases, we will discuss the difficulty with futility, the confusion that can occur with DNAR orders and the changing face of ‘best interests’. We shall also highlight the practical issues that arise, physiologically, politically and emotionally during the referral, approach to the family, management of the potential donor and the process of retrieval. Reference Information Department of Health (2008) Organs for Transplants Central Office for Information www.dh.gov.uk/publications Department of Health (2009) Legal Issues Relevant to Non-heartbeating Organ Donation (web only) www.dh.gov. uk/publications.
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Oral Abstracts