Deceased‐directed donation: Considering the ethical permissibility in a multicultural setting

Abstract

This paper explores the ethics of deceased-directed donation (DDD) and brings a unique perspective to this issue-the relevance of providing family-centered care and culturally sensitive care to deceased donors, potential recipients, and their families. The significance of providing family-centered care is becoming increasingly prevalent, specifically in pediatric healthcare settings. Therefore, this topic is especially relevant to those working with and interested in pediatrics. As the world is becoming more diverse with globalization, assessing the cultural aspect of the ethics of DDD is increasingly salient. We provide a brief overview of DDD across the globe, review prominent arguments both for and against DDD, consider family-centered and culturally specific considerations, and offer considerations for the development of a policy or guideline. We determine that the practice of DDD is ethically defensible in certain circumstances and congruent with providing both family-centered and culturally sensitive care. Our analysis is relevant to any country with a diverse population and any healthcare provider or institution that operates under a framework of family-centered care, such as those in pediatric hospitals.

Deceased organ and tissue donation after medical assistance in dying: 2023 updated guidance for policy

“…Directed donation refers to a patient’s desire to have 1 or more of their organs given to someone known to them (a friend or relative) who needs an organ transplant. 10 Organ donation organizations must confirm blood and tissue type matching. In recognition that some patients pursuing donation after MAiD request directed donation, forum participants agreed that organ donation organizations and transplantation programs should be prepared by developing relevant policies related to directed deceased donation after MAiD.…”

Dons d’organes et de tissus après décès dans le cadre de l’aide médicale à mourir : mise à jour 2023 du document d’orientation pour l’élaboration de politiques

“…Le don dirigé fait référence à la volonté d’une personne malade qui souhaite faire don de 1 ou plusieurs organes à une personne de sa connaissance (ami ou parent) qui a besoin d’une transplantation d’organe 10 . Les organismes de don d’organes doivent confirmer la compatibilité sanguine et tissulaire.…”

Strengthening Global Efforts to Combat Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism: Implications of the 2018 Edition of the Declaration of Istanbul

“…22 Some jurisdictions also permit “directed donation,” in which an organ may be allocated to the relative of a deceased donor when clinically appropriate. 23 Such directed donations should not be confused with conditional donation, in which consent is provided for donation only on the condition that donated organs (or tissues) are allocated to—or withheld from—recipients of a specific race, gender, age, religion, or the like. The latter is usually considered ethically unacceptable.…”