A closer look at organ donation after cardiocirculatory death in Canada

Excerpt

The world of organ and tissue transplantation is one of the major successes and good-news stories in medicine. Central to the success of transplantation is the process of organ and tissue donation. While donation is valued highly by Canadians, there are still many important pressing issues relevant today that warrant our attention and creative energy. These include the lack of community education in general about organ and tissue donation and specifically education that is culturally effective; the inconsistent approach of health care workers in appropriately making the option of donation known; the reluctance of families to discuss such topics in advance; the organization and funding of health care and its impact in preventing many patients from actualizing their potential donation wishes; the inexplicable gap between the actual and potential tissue donation rates—especially as it relates to the need for importation; and the geographic variation in donation rates within Canada and what this represents in terms of equity and quality of care. Canadians are also concerned about illegal and immoral practices internationally. …