1 Recommendations

Identifying patients who are potential donors

1.1.1 Organ donation should be considered as a usual part of end-of-life care planning.

1.1.2 Identify all patients who are potentially suitable donors as early as possible, through a systematic approach. While recognising that clinical situations vary identification should be based on either of the following criteria:

  • defined clinical trigger factors in patients who have had a catastrophic brain injury, namely:

  • the intention to withdraw life-sustaining treatment in patients with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition which will, or is expected to, result in circulatory death.

1.1.3 The healthcare team caring for the patient should initiate discussions about potential organ donation with the specialist nurse for organ donation at the time the criteria in recommendation 1.1.2 are met.

Patients who have capacity

1.1.4 In circumstances where a patient has the capacity to make their own decisions, obtain their views on, and consent to, organ donation.

If the potential donor is under 16, healthcare professionals should follow the Department of Health's guide on Seeking consent: working with children.

Assessing best interests

1.1.5 If a patient lacks capacity to make decisions about their end-of life-care, seek to establish whether taking steps, before death, to facilitate organ donation would be in the best interests of the patient.

1.1.6 While assessing the patient's best interests clinically stabilise the patient in an appropriate critical care setting while the assessment for donation is performed – for example, an adult intensive care unit or in discussion with a regional paediatric intensive care unit (see recommendation 1.1.8).

1.1.7 Provided that delay is in the patient's overall best interests, life-sustaining treatments should not be withdrawn or limited until the patient's wishes around organ donation have been explored and the clinical potential for the patient to donate has been assessed in accordance with legal and professional guidance.

See the government's guidance on legal issues relevant to non-heartbeating organ donation, the Donation after Circulatory Death steering group's 2010 Consensus Meeting Report and the General Medical Council guidance on treatment and care towards the end of life: good practice in decision making.

1.1.8 In assessing a patient's best interests, consider:

  • the patient's known wishes and feelings, in particular any advance statement or registration on the NHS organ donor register but also any views expressed by the patient to those close to the patient

  • the beliefs or values that would be likely to influence the patient's decision if they had the capacity to make it

  • any other factors they would be likely to consider if they were able to do so

  • the views of the patient's family, friends and anyone involved in their care as appropriate as to what would be in the patient's best interests; and

  • anyone named by the patient to be consulted about such decisions.

    Visit the NHS organ donation website for further information.

Approach to those close to the patient

The multidisciplinary team

1.1.11 A multidisciplinary team (MDT) should be responsible for planning the approach and discussing organ donation with those close to the patient.

1.1.12 The MDT should include:

  • the medical and nursing staff involved in the care of the patient, led throughout the process by an identifiable consultant

  • the specialist nurse for organ donation

  • local faith representative(s) where relevant.

1.1.13 Whenever possible, continuity of care should be provided by team members who have been directly involved in caring for the patient.

1.1.14 The MDT involved in the initial approach should have the necessary skills and knowledge to provide to those close to the patient appropriate support and accurate information about organ donation (see recommendations 1.1.30 and 1.1.31 in the section on organisation of the identification, referral and consent processes).

Discussions in all cases

1.1.15 Before approaching those close to the patient:

  • identify a patient's potential for donation in consultation with the specialist nurse for organ donation

  • check the NHS organ donor register and any advance statements or Lasting Power of Attorney for health and welfare

  • clarify coronial, legal and safeguarding issues.

1.1.16 Before approaching those close to the patient, try to seek information on all of the following:

  • knowledge of the clinical history of the patient who is a potential donor

  • identification of key family members

  • assessment of whether family support is required – for example faith representative, family liaison officer, bereavement service, trained interpreter, advocate

  • identification of other key family issues

  • identification of cultural and religious issues that may have an impact on consent.

1.1.17 Approach those close to the patient in a setting suitable for private and compassionate discussion.

1.1.18 Every approach to those close to the patient should be planned with the MDT and at a time that suits the family's circumstances.

1.1.19 In all cases those close to the patient should be approached in a professional, compassionate and caring manner and given sufficient time to consider the information.

1.1.20 Discussions about organ donation with those close to the patient should only take place when it has been clearly established that they understand that death is inevitable or has occurred.

1.1.21 When approaching those close to the patient:

  • discuss with them that donation is a usual part of the end-of-life care

  • use open-ended questions – for example 'how do you think your relative would feel about organ donation?'

  • use positive ways to describe organ donation, especially when patients are on the NHS organ donor register or they have expressed a wish to donate during their lifetime – for example 'by becoming a donor your relative has a chance to save and transform the lives of many others'

  • avoid the use of apologetic or negative language (for example 'I am asking you because it is policy' or 'I am sorry to have to ask you').

1.1.22 The healthcare team providing care for the patient should provide those close to the patient who is a potential donor with the following, as appropriate:

  • assurance that the primary focus is on the care and dignity of the patient (whether the donation occurs or not)

  • explicit confirmation and reassurance that the standard of care received will be the same whether they consider giving consent for organ donation or not

  • the rationale behind the decision to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment and how the timing will be coordinated to support organ donation

  • a clear explanation of, and information on:

    • the process of organ donation and retrieval, including post-retrieval arrangements

    • what interventions may be required between consent and organ retrieval

    • where and when organ retrieval is likely to occur

    • how current legislation (for example, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Human Tissue Act 2004) applies to their situation, including the status of being on the NHS organ donor register or any advance statement

    • how the requirements for coronial referral apply to their situation

  • consent documentation

  • reasons why organ donation may not take place, even if consent is granted.

1.1.23 Allow sufficient time for those close to the patient to understand the inevitability of the death or anticipated death and to spend time with the patient.

1.1.24 Discuss withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment or neurological death before, and at a different time from, discussing organ donation unless those close to the patient initiate these discussions in the same conversation.

1.1.25 For discussions where circulatory death is anticipated, provide a clear explanation on:

  • what end-of-life care involves and where it will take place – for example, theatre, critical care department

  • how death is confirmed and what happens next

  • what happens if death does not occur within a defined time period.

1.1.26 For discussions where neurological death is anticipated, provide a clear explanation on:

  • how death is diagnosed using neurological criteria

  • how this is confirmed and what happens next.

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)