Variation in organ donation in northeastern England 1986 to 2003.
Renal transplantation is established as the best form of renal replacement therapy, but demand for kidneys exceeds supply from cadaveric donations. It is therefore important to make the best use of the pool of potential cadaveric organ donors. Donation rates are to a large extent dependent on public opinions, which may be influenced by external events. In northeast England from 1986 to 2003, there was a potential pool of 1170 brain stem-dead donors, of whom 190 (16%) could not be retrieved due to relatives' objections. From 1998 to 2003 we were referred 90 potential non-heart-beating donors, of whom relatives refused donation in 10 (11%). A major reason for not retrieving organs from a potential donor has been lack of consent from the relatives. Refusals appear to vary year by year and are consistently lower for non-heart-beating donors. This therefore raises the possibility that negative or positive media publicity plays a role in this variation.
Asher
J
J
Liver and Renal Transplant Unit, The Freeman Hospital, High Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE7 7DN, UK. john.asher@btinternet.com
Wilson
C
C
Gupta
A
A
Robson
L
L
Latimer
S
S
Wong
Y
Y
Gok
M
M
Del Rio Martin
J
J
Soomro
N
N
Rix
D
D
Jaques
B
B
Manas
D
D
Talbot
D
D
D001293:Attitude to Death; D004739:England; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D011639:Public Opinion; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000706:statistics & numerical data