Organ donation and procurement: what responsibilities does the hospital have?
Organ transplantation has become an accepted part of medical practice, but one whose benefits have not been fully realized. Because organs are obtained from only a small percentage of suitable donors, many patients with end-stage renal or cardiac disease die while awaiting a transplant. Hospitals have been given increased responsibilities in the procurement of organs; these duties must be thoroughly understood by hospital administration and those who actually request organ donation.
D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004989:Ethics; D004991:Ethics, Institutional; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D012941:Social Responsibility; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014180:Transplantation; D014481:United States