Organ donation and the Emergency Department

We know that organ donation has a much greater profile across England since the deemed consent law was introduced in May 2020; however, the law itself is not a panacea to reduce the gap between the number of people waiting for an organ and those available for transplant. The law provides an opportunity for people to donate who have not got round to making or sharing their donation decision but this is underpinned and completely reliant on health care professionals being aware of and committing to the process which allows families to consider donation in the right place and at the right time.

Organ donation and the ED: a strategy for best practice

This presentation uses available best practice guidance to reinforce the good management of a patient with a perceived devastating brain injury and the pathways in place to support a recovery from their insult or entering into a palliative process.

Further resources

• Harvey, D., Butler, J., Groves, J. et al. Management of perceived devastating brain injury after hospital admission: a consensus statement from stakeholder professional organizations. British Journal of Anaesthesia 120(1): 138e145 (2018).
• Manara AR, Thomas I, Harding R. A case for stopping the early withdrawal of life sustaining therapies in patients with devastating brain injuries. Journal of the Intensive Care Society. 2016;17(4):295-301.
• NHS Blood and Transplant (2019). Organ donation and the Emergency Department: A strategy for implementation of best practice.
• NHS Blood and Transplant (2014). Timely identification and referral of potential organ donors: A strategy for implementation of best practice.
• NICE Guideline [CG135]. Organ donation for transplantation: improving donor identification and consent rates for deceased organ donation.
• Souter, M.J., Blissitt, P.A., Blosser, S. et al. Recommendations for the critical care management of devastating brain injury: Prognostication, psychosocial, and ethical management. Neurocrit Care 23, 4–13 (2015).
• The Faculty of Intensive Care Management (2018). Management of perceived devastating brain injury after hospital admission: A consensus statement.
• The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (2015). End of life care for adults in the Emergency Department.

Watch the other presentations

This blog and presentation is one of a three-part education webinar series on opt out organ donation.