title: Potential limitations of presumed consent legislation.
abstract: A causal link has been proposed between presumed consent (PC) and increased donation; we hypothesized that too much heterogeneity exists in transplantation systems to support this inference. We explored variations in PC implementation and other potential factors affecting donation rates. In-depth interviews were performed with senior transplant physicians from 13 European PC countries. Donation was always discussed with family and would not proceed against objections. Country-specific, nonconsent factors were identified that could explain differences in donation rates. Because the process of donation in PC countries does not differ dramatically from the process in non-PC countries, it seems unlikely that PC alone increases donation rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Boyarsky
authors.forename: Erin C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Neha A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.forename: R Lorie
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Steinwachs
authors.forename: Dorry L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Segev
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D019724:Presumed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data