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Death, dying and donation: community perceptions of brain death and their relationship to decisions regarding withdrawal of vital organ support and organ donation
Author(s) -
Skowronski George,
O'Leary Michael J.,
Critchley Christine,
O'Reilly Lisa,
Forlini Cynthia,
Ghinea Narcyz,
Sheahan Linda,
Stewart Cameron,
Kerridge Ian
Publication year - 2020
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.15028
Subject(s) - organ donation , medicine , brain dead , donation , life support , perception , intensive care medicine , transplantation , surgery , psychology , neuroscience , economics , economic growth
Despite brain death (BD) being established as a definition of death for over 50 years, the concept remains controversial. Little is known about public perception of death determination in decision‐making about withdrawal of organ support and organ donation (OD), and the importance of the ‘Dead Donor Rule’ (DDR). We examined perceptions about death in a BD patient and their relationship to decisions about withdrawal of vital organ support, OD and the DDR, using an online survey of 1017 Australian adults. A BD patient scenario was presented, followed by a series of questions. Statistically significant differences in responses were determined using repeated measures analyses of variance and t tests. Seven hundred and fourteen respondents (70.2%) agreed that a hypothetical BD patient was dead. Those disagreeing most commonly cited the presence of heartbeat and breathing. Seven hundred and seventy (75.7%) favoured removal of ‘life support’, including 136 (13.3%) who had not agreed the patient was dead. Support for OD was high, but most favoured organ removal only after heartbeat and breathing had ceased. Where OD was in keeping with the patient's known wishes, 464 (45.6%) agreed that organs could be removed even if this caused death. Forty‐one (20%) of those who had indicated they considered the patient was not dead agreed to organ removal even if it caused death. Australian public views on BD, withdrawal of ‘life support’ and OD are complex. Emphasis on prognosis and the impact of significant brain injury may be more appropriate in these situations, rather than focussing on death determination and upholding the DDR.