SummaryEighty-three cases of brain stem death referred to the South Thames Transplant Co-ordination Service were audited to determine the quality of brain stem death test records. Documentation of brain stem death tests were complete in only 41 (44%) cases at the time of referral. There was no significant difference in completeness, whether documentation was in patient's notes or on a designated checklist ( p 0.14). There were a greater number of omissions when the tests were documented in patient's notes rather than on a form ( p 0.01). There is a necessity to improve the quality of brain stem death test documentation in order to facilitate organ donation and safeguard the integrity of brain stem death testing. This requires a commitment by clinicians to improve the quality of documentation, which can be accomplished by recording all aspects of brain stem death tests, including the conclusion on a single designated checklist. The South Thames Transplant Co-ordination Service covers a population of approximately seven million across South London, Kent, Sussex and Surrey. The role of the service [1] includes (a) multiprofessional and general public education; (b) family counselling and support; (c) organisation and facilitation of organ donations.The logistics of organ donation and subsequent transplantation require good communication between health care professionals and the transplant co-ordinators [2]. A transplant co-ordinator can only initiate the process of organ donation when absolutely assured by the clear documentation of brain stem death test (BSDT) results that the potential donor is brain stem dead. In the South Thames Region transplant co-ordinators have frequently attended potential organ donors who had incomplete documentation of BSDT. In some instances valuable time was wasted, as the doctor who carried out the BSDT had to be recalled to the hospital to complete documentation. Such situations do not facilitate a good relationship between the transplant co-ordination service and referring units.
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