Biomaterial Database

Obtaining consent for organ donation. 1985

C M Montefusco, and S Levine, and J Goldsmith, and F J Veith

The medical, emotional, and legal environments in which consent for organ donation is pursued greatly influence the outcome of this request. Knowledge of the circumstances and facts regarding brain death are important first steps in resolving misconceptions a potential donor's family may have that might preclude a favorable decision. The attitudes of hospital staff members toward these issues, and the grief and shock experienced at these times by next-of-kin, further complicate the circumstances in which consent for organ donation is requested. Clarification of traditional religious beliefs and reconciliation of these with the concept of organ donation may also have to be addressed at this time. Significant benefit to the bereaved family as well as to the transplantation process can accrue only in an atmosphere in which all involved understand the facts of brain death, and in which organ donation is viewed positively.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007258	Informed Consent	Voluntary authorization, by a patient or research subject, with full comprehension of the risks involved, for diagnostic or investigative procedures, and for medical and surgical treatment.	Consent, Informed
D001926	Brain Death	A state of prolonged irreversible cessation of all brain activity, including lower brain stem function with the complete absence of voluntary movements, responses to stimuli, brain stem reflexes, and spontaneous respirations. Reversible conditions which mimic this clinical state (e.g., sedative overdose, hypothermia, etc.) are excluded prior to making the determination of brain death. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp348-9)	Brain Dead,Coma Depasse,Irreversible Coma,Brain Deads,Coma, Irreversible,Death, Brain
D005190	Family	A social group consisting of parents or parent substitutes and children.	Family Life Cycles,Family Members,Family Life Cycle,Family Research,Filiation,Kinship Networks,Relatives,Families,Family Member,Kinship Network,Life Cycle, Family,Life Cycles, Family,Network, Kinship,Networks, Kinship,Research, Family
D006761	Hospitals	Institutions with an organized medical staff which provide medical care to patients.	Hospital
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001291	Attitude of Health Personnel	Attitudes of personnel toward their patients, other professionals, toward the medical care system, etc.	Staff Attitude,Attitude, Staff,Attitudes, Staff,Health Personnel Attitude,Health Personnel Attitudes,Staff Attitudes
D014019	Tissue Donors	Individuals supplying living tissue, organs, cells, blood or blood components for transfer or transplantation to histocompatible recipients.	Organ Donors,Donors,Ovum Donors,Semen Donors,Transplant Donors,Donor,Donor, Organ,Donor, Ovum,Donor, Semen,Donor, Tissue,Donor, Transplant,Donors, Organ,Donors, Ovum,Donors, Semen,Donors, Tissue,Donors, Transplant,Organ Donor,Ovum Donor,Semen Donor,Tissue Donor,Transplant Donor
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.