COMPREHENSIVE STATE LEGISLATION DRAMATICALLY INCREASES ORGAN DONATIONS AND TRANSPLANTATION
1998; Wolters Kluwer; Volume: 65; Issue: Supplement Linguagem: Inglês
10.1097/00007890-199805131-00008
ISSN1534-6080
AutoresHoward M. Nathan, John Abrams, K. T. Sparkman, R. Kochik, Virginia Robertson, Richard Hasz, Brian Hamilton, Theresa Daly, P. Glady,
Tópico(s)Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
Resumo8 Background: Comprehensive state legislation took effect in March 1995 requiring all acute care hospitals to routinely refer all patient deaths to the organ procurement organization (OPO) for determination of suitability for donation. An analysis of organ, tissue and eye donations in this OPO's service area was performed to determine the effect of the law. Methods: An analysis of referrals and actual organ, tissue and eye donations was performed for the calendar year prior to the law (1994), the year of implementation (1995) and two calendar years after the majority of hospitals implemented the law (1996 and 1997). Information on all patient referrals had been entered at the time of the referral into the OPO database and included: patient identifier, age, sex, race, cause of death, referring institution, medical history and outcome (results of donation or reasons why donation did not occur). Results: TableSummary: State routine referral legislation, along with intensive implementation in hospitals by this OPO resulted in a 58% increase in suitable potential organ donor referrals, a 40% increase in organ donations and a 49% increase in transplants within a three year period. Donation rates increased from 21.4 donors per million (DPM) to 30 DPM, higher than any other urban based OPO. Tissue donations increased by 21% despite a lowering of the maximum donor age to <60. Eye donations increased 10% over the same time period despite a much more selective donor criteria, virtually eliminating the waiting list for suitable corneas. Conclusions: Well designed state legislation with proper OPO implementation dramatically increased the number of organs donated and transplanted and had a similar, although not as dramatic effect on tissue and eye donations.
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