Worldwide variability in deceased organ donation registries

Abstract

The variability in deceased organ donation registries worldwide has received little attention. We considered all operating registries, where individual wishes about organ donation were recorded in a computerized database. We included registries which recorded an individual's decision to be a donor (donor registry), and registries which only recorded an individual's objection (non-donor registry). We collected information on 15 characteristics including history, design, use and number of registrants for 27 registries (68%). Most registries are nationally operated and government-owned. Registrations in five nations expire and require renewal. Some registries provide the option to make specific organ selections in the donation decision. Just over half of donor registries provide legally binding authorization to donation. In all national donor registries, except one, the proportion of adults (15+) registered is modest (<40%). These proportions can be even lower when only affirmative decisions are considered. One nation provides priority status on the transplant waiting list as an incentive to affirmative registration, while another nation makes registering a donation decision mandatory to obtain a driver's license. Registered objections in non-donor registries are rare (<0.5%). The variation in organ donor registries worldwide necessitates public discourse and quality improvement initiatives, to identify and support leading practices in registry use.

Social Media and Organ Donor Registration: The Facebook Effect

“…However, the initiative's demonstrable efficacy is enhanced when it can be linked to a preexistent online registry, as our study illustrates. There remains great worldwide variability in deceased organ donation registries (19) and Facebook and Donate Life America may be able to participate in the online construction of such resources in countries where they do not exist or are being developed and can be encouraged by the rollout of the donor initiative, that is, Mexico (20-22).…”

Geographic Determinants of Access to Pediatric Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation

“…13,14 Geographic differences in organ donor registration and organ donation rates are large and not fully explained by demographics. 6,15 Interventional studies have demonstrated successful approaches to encouraging organ donor registration and organ donation itself. 16 These practices could improve the supply of pediatric-quality kidneys.…”

Registration for deceased organ and tissue donation among Ontario immigrants: a population-based cross-sectional study

“…In a 2012 study comparing characteristics and proportions registered of various registries worldwide, Nova Scotia had the highest proportion of citizens registered, at 65%, followed by New Brunswick (42%), Ontario (18%), Yukon Territory (16%), Quebec (10%) and British Columbia (8%). 2 In Canada, donor registries are "opt-in" registries that record only "yes" responses. People can register for organ and tissue donation when they renew or apply for a new driver's licence or health card at ServiceOntario.…”

“…1 Canada has an "opt-in" system, whereby citizens can record their donation wishes through a deceased organ donor registry, which can then be used to inform family members in the event of death. 2,3 Increasing the number of registered donors is a key strategy adopted by Canadian organ procurement organizations to improve organ and tissue donation. 2 An important step to increase the registration rate is to identify subpopulations that have lower donor registration rates and to better understand the reasons for nonregistration.…”