title: Organ procurement.
abstract: The growth of organ transplantation has led to increased physician assistant involvement in the organ procurement process. Consent for organ donation must be obtained from the family of the brain-dead patient prior to discontinuation of life-support systems. This is a complex and difficult task for the counseling clinician. It requires a sound understanding of brain death, the mechanics of the procurement system, and the needs of the donor family. In this article, a specialist offers practical guidelines to PAs who wish to help these families make informed decisions about organ donation.
mesh_terms: D001926:Brain Death; D006801:Humans; D010823:Physician Assistants; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States