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Factors relating to consent for organ donation: prospective data on potential organ donors
Author(s) -
Marck C. H.,
Neate S. L.,
Skinner M. R.,
Dwyer B. M.,
Hickey B. B.,
D'Costa R.,
Weiland T. J.,
Jelinek G. A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.12628
Subject(s) - organ donation , donation , medicine , family medicine , informed consent , transplantation , surgery , law , alternative medicine , pathology , political science
Background Obtaining family consent to organ donation is a significant obstacle to improving further Australian deceased organ donation rates. Currently, neither the consent rates for donors eligible to donate after circulatory death, nor factors that influence decision to decline or consent to donation in general are known in A ustralia. Methods This study at four university teaching hospitals in M elbourne, V ictoria, examined consecutive patients where organ donation was discussed with the family Results A total of 123 cases were identified; the family consent rate was 52.8%, and 34.1% proceeded to donation. Consent to donation was related to potential donor factors such as country of birth, cultural background in A ustralia, a non‐religious or C hristian background and registration on the A ustralian O rgan D onor R egister. Family‐related factors included being E nglish speaking and having knowledge of the deceased's wishes about organ donation. Family of donation after circulatory death‐eligible donors were less likely to consent to donation than the family of donation after brain death‐eligible donors, although not reaching statistical significance. Among consented potential donors, those eligible for donation after brain death and with a shorter length of stay were more likely to proceed to donating organs for transplantation. Conclusion Despite a small sample size, these findings describe current consent and donation rates and associated factors and may assist in improving conversations about organ donation.