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Cited by 70Organ Donation and TransplantationEthics and bioethics in healthcareEthics in Clinical Research

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A narrative review of the empirical evidence on public attitudes on brain death and vital organ transplantation: the need for better data to inform policy

Shah, Seema K, Kasper, Kenneth, Miller, Franklin G·2015·Journal of Medical Ethics
DOI 10.1136/medethics-2013-101930
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Abstract

Vital organ transplantation is premised on 'the dead donor rule': donors must be declared dead according to medical and legal criteria prior to donation. However, it is controversial whether individuals diagnosed as 'brain dead' are really dead in accordance with the established biological conception of death-the irreversible cessation of the functioning of the organism as a whole. A basic understanding of brain death is also relevant for giving valid, informed consent to serve as an organ donor. There is therefore a need for reliable empirical data on public understanding of brain death and vital organ transplantation. We conducted a review of the empirical literature that identified 43 articles with approximately 18,603 study participants. These data demonstrate that participants generally do not understand three key issues: (1) uncontested biological facts about brain death, (2) the legal status of brain death and (3) that organs are procured from brain dead patients while their hearts are still beating and before their removal from ventilators. These data suggest that, despite scholarly claims of widespread public support for organ donation from brain dead patients, the existing data on public attitudes regarding brain death and organ transplantation reflect substantial public confusion. Our review raises questions about the validity of consent for vital organ transplantation and suggests that existing data are of little assistance in developing policy proposals for organ…

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  • The time-critical nature of uncontrolled donation after circulatory death usually requires the initiation of organ preservation processes prior to family consultation to maintain organ viability.

    “In particular, the time-critical nature of the process usually requires the initiation of organ preservation processes prior to family consultation to maintain organ viability. 186,190,191”

    From European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Ethics of resuscitation and end of life decisions (2021) · cites this paper as [190]

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Metadata

Authors
Shah, S. K., Kasper, K., & Miller, F. G.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Shah, Seema K
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Medical Ethics
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2014-04-25
Volume
41
Issue
4
Pages
291-296
ISSN
  • 0306-6800 (ISSN-L)
  • 1473-4257
DOI
10.1136/medethics-2013-101930
OpenAlex
W2121992448
Cited by
70
References
1
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3
FWCI
1.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Medical Ethics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Organ Donation and Transplantation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics and bioethics in healthcare
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics in Clinical Research
Keywords
brain death, public attitudes, dead donor rule, informed consent, organ donation, legal status of brain death, organ procurement, transplant policy, public education
MeSH terms
Attitude to Death, Brain Death, Death, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Informed Consent, Tissue and Organ Procurement, Public Opinion, Public Policy, United States, Tissue and Organ Harvesting

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