Anatomical Gift Study Results Released

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies has just released (May 2, 2006) the results of its 16-month study designed to strengthen the organ donation system.  Here are a few highlights of the almost 400 page report entitled Organ Donation: Opportunities for Action:

• Accelerate time of “death” by adopting a circulatory determination of death (rather than by determining death by neurologic criteria).
• Enhance public education regarding organ donation.
• Rejected giving organ donors preferential status as organ donees.
• Rejected idea of presumed consent for organ donation despite its popularity and success in many other nations.
• Rejected idea of donees covering the donor’s expenses such as funeral expenses.
• Rejected direct payments to families of donor’s, including charitable contributions in the donor’s honor.