Organ Donation after Cardiac Death: NSW Guidelines

Summary
This Guideline should be read in conjunction with PD2005_406 Consent to Medical Treatment - Patient Information, PD2005_341 Human Tissue - Use/Retention including Organ Donation, Post-Mortem Examination and Coronial Matters, and PD2005_057 Guidelines for end-of-life care and decision-making.
This Guideline describes the requirements and process for organ donation after cardiac death (DCD) in NSW. This approach to organ donation entails procurement of organs after the donors death where death is certified according to irreversible cessation of circulation of blood to the body (rather than according to brain death criteria) The guideline outlines the applicable setting for DCD in NSW, donor selection criteria, donor management (including decision-making and consent processes, surgical requirements, criteria for declaration of death, and care of the donor and family leading up to, and after the donor's death), subsequent organ allocation, and the relevant ethical and legal considerations applicable to this organ donation practice in NSW.

Date of Publication: 19 June 2007

Replaces: N/A
Author Branch: Health Research and Ethics

This document applies to: Area Health Services/Chief Executive Governed Statutory Health Corporation, Affiliated Health Organisations - Non Declared, Affiliated Health Organisations - Declared, Public Hospitals

Audience: All staff, in particular health professionals in ICU, operating theatres and emergency departments

Distributed to: Public Health System, Dental Schools and Clinics, Divisions of General Practice, Government Medical Officers, Health Professional Associations and Related Organisations, NSW Ambulance Service , NSW Department of Health, Public Hospitals, Private Hospitals and Day Procedure Centres , Tertiary Education Institutes

Review Date: 19 June 2012

File No: 04/3586-2

Status: Active

File link: Organ Donation after Cardiac Death: NSW Guidelines
File size: 131Kb