title: "Why can't I give you my organs after my heart has stopped beating?" An overview of the main clinical, organisational, ethical and legal issues concerning organ donation after circulatory death in Italy.
abstract: Donation after circulatory death (DCD) is a valuable option for the procurement of functioning organs for transplantation. Clinical results are promising and public acceptance is quite good in most western countries. Yet, although DCD is widespread in Europe, several problems still persist in Italy as well as in some other countries. This paper aims to describe the main clinical, organisational, ethical and legal issues at stake, bearing in mind the particular situation created by Italian legislation. Currently, as regards DCD, Italy is somewhat different from other countries. Therefore, every effort should be made for the safe and effective implementation of DCD programs: uncontrolled DCD programs should be promoted and encouraged, within the framework of shared and authoritative rules. At the same time, we need to tackle the question of controlled DCD, promoting debate among all involved subjects regarding the fundamental issues of end-of-life care within protocols that best integrate the highest standard of care for the dying and the legitimate interests of those awaiting a life-saving organ.
authors.affiliation: Terapia Intensiva Pediatrica, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy - a.giannini@policlinico.mi.it.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abelli
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Azzoni
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biancofiore
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Citterio
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geraci
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Latronico
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picozzi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Procaccio
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Riccioni
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rigotti
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valenza
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vesconi
authors.forename: Nereo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zamperetti
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D003643:Death; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D013727:Terminal Care; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*