EFFECT OF ORGAN DONOR RACE ON HEALTH TEAM PROCUREMENT EFFORTS

Objective: To determine whether referral of potential organ donors is affected by race of the patient. Design: Retrospective chart audit. Se tting: Regional trauma center serving a 50% African-American populatio n. Patients: Records of patients meeting organ procurement organizatio n criteria were reviewed for evidence that (1) they had been identifie d as a potential organ donor, (2) the family had been approached about organ donation, and (3) the family had agreed to or refused organ don ation. Results: There were 620 deaths, 152 (24%) met all donor criteri a. 114 (75%) were identified as potential donors, 90 (59%) were approa ched for donation, and 35 (23%) were organ donors. Of the white patien ts, 84% (71/85) vs 64% of the African-Americans (43/67) were identifie d as donors (P<.01); 69% (59) of the whites vs 46% (31) oi the African -Americans were approached for donation (P<.01); and 28% (24) of the w hites vs 16% (11) of the African-Americans were organ donors (P<.086). Conclusions: Before and after controlling for cause of death, the ris k that African-American donors would not be identified was more than 2 .4 times greater than for whites (P<.01). No significant racial differ ences were noted in requests for suicide and homicide victims; for acc ident victims, significantly fewer requests were made of African-Ameri cans. Efforts must be made to determine the dynamics of interaction be tween staff and donor families and to enhance healthcare team members' abilities to identify donors and request donations from both races in stress-provoking situations.