THE IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL CADAVERIC ORGAN DONORS

Most Australian transplantation programs are severely restricted in th eir activities by a limited availability of cadaveric donor organs To investigate possible reasons for this problem, an audit was undertaken over three 12-month periods of all deaths in 13 hospitals in New Sout h Wales and the Australian Capital Territory From 7406 deaths, 271 pat ients were classified as having been realistic, medically suitable pot ential donors. Of these, only 60 (22%) became actual donors. In the ot her 211 patients, donation did not occur because of unsuccessful resus citation (30%) permission refusal by relatives (34%) and failure to id entify or support the potential donors (36%). If the impediments to or gan donation which were identified in this study could be overcome, al lowing a greater number of potential donors to become actual donors, t he chronic shortage of cadaveric donor organs for transplantation coul d be at least partly relieved.