General Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Organ Donation in a Sample of Mexican Medical and Nursing Students / Conocimientos generales y actitudes hacia la donación de órganos en una muestra de estudiantes mexicanos de medicina y de enfermería / Conhecimentos gerais e atitudes para a doação de órgãos em uma amostra de estudantes mexicanos de medicina e de enfermagem

Abstract Introduction: For many patients, organ transplantation is the only alternative available to them in order to achieve extended survival with a good quality of life. However, there is a significant shortage of organs available for transplantation and Mexico has one of the lowest organ donation rates. In many cases, physicians and nurses retain contact with potential donors' relatives who are key persons in facilitating the posthumous organ donation process. The objective of this study was to explore what knowledge and attitudes Mexican medical and nursing students have toward organ donation. Materials and methods: Three hundred eighty-four students completed two questionnaires, one about organ donation knowledge and the other about attitudes toward organ donation. Results: Participants, especially nursing students, showed an inadequate level of knowledge about organ donation. Many of them falsely believe that it is possible to recover from brain death. Most students also falsely believe that there is an age limitation for organ donation, and that prevailing religions in Mexico are opposed to organ donation. There was a negative correlation between knowledge of and unfavorable attitudes toward organ donation. Conclusions: It may be necessary to review current school curriculum to ensure that future health professionals are appropriately educated about organ donation and can promote donation to help reduce the shortage of organs.

Resumen Introducción: muchas personas tienen en el trasplante de órganos su única alternativa para lograr sobrevivir con una buena calidad de vida. Sin embargo, existe una gran escasez de órganos para trasplantes, y México posee una de las tasas más bajas de donación. El personal de medicina y de enfermería está en contacto con los familiares de los posibles donadores y son personas clave para facilitar el proceso de donación de órganos post mortem. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar el conocimiento y las actitudes hacia la donación de órganos en estudiantes mexicanos de medicina y enfermería. Materiales y métodos: trescientos ochenta y cuatro estudiantes contestaron dos cuestionarios: uno sobre conocimientos y otro sobre actitudes hacia la donación de órganos. Resultados: los participantes mostraron un nivel de conocimiento inadecuado, especialmente los estudiantes de enfermería. Muchos de ellos creían que es posible recuperarse de la muerte cerebral. La mayoría de los estudiantes creen erroneamente que hay un límite de edad para donar y que las religiones que prevalecen en México se oponen a la donación de órganos. Hubo una correlación negativa entre conocimientos y actitudes desfavorables hacia la donación de órganos. Conclusiones: es necesario revisar los programas de estudio, a fin de asegurar que los futuros profesionales de la salud estén adecuadamente preparados para promover la donación y reducir la escasez de órganos.

Resumo Introdução: para muitos pacientes, o transplante de órgãos é a única alternativa para conseguir sobreviver com uma boa qualidade de vida. No entanto, existe uma grave escassez de órgãos para transplantes, e o México tem uma das taxas mais baixas de doação de órgãos. O pessoal de medicina e enfermagem têm contacto com os familiares dos possíveis doadores e são pessoas chave para facilitar o processo de doação de órgãos post-mortem. O objetivo deste estudo foi explorar o conhecimento e as atitudes para a doação de órgãos em estudantes mexicanos de medicina e enfermagem. Materiais e métodos: trezentos oitenta e quatro estudantes responderam Dois questionários, um sobre conhecimentos e outro sobre atitudes sobre a doação de órgãos. Resultados: os participantes mostraram um nível de conhecimento inadequado, especialmente os estudantes de enfermagem. Muitos deles acreditavam que é possível se recuperar da morte cerebral. A maioria dos estudantes acreditavam erroneamente que há um limite de idade para doar, e que as religiões que prevalecem no México se opõe á doação de órgãos. Houve uma correlação negativa entre conhecimentos e atitudes desfavoráveis para a doação de órgãos. Conclusoes: é necessário revisar os programas de estudo para garantir que os futuros profissionais da saúde estejam adequadamente preparados para promover a doação e reduzir a escassez de órgaos.

La donación de órganos y tejidos: una realidad en el Hospital Carlos Andrade Marín. Actividad y registro de procesos de procuración durante el período de enero a diciembre de 2014 / Organ and tissue donation: a reality in the Carlos Andrade Marin Hospital. Activity and registering of the procurement process during the January 2014 to December 2014 period

Introducción: a nivel mundial nos enfrentamos al rápido incremento en la prevalencia de enfermedades crónicas que causan disfunción de órganos vitales por lo que se estima que existe un gran número de pacientes esperando recibir un trasplante. La probabilidad de fallecer en la lista de espera es alta, por lo que la procuración de órganos es un proceso indispensable en los hospitales. Objetivos: reportar los procesos y los resultados de la procuración de órganos y tejidos en el Hospital Carlos Andrade Marín, durante el período comprendido entre enero a diciembre de 2014, con el fin de fomentar y promover dicho proceso. Materiales y métodos: se trata de un estudio descriptivo y de reporte de proceso, en el cual se incluyeron a todos los pacientes neurocríticos que cumplían criterios de muerte encefálica como donantes multiorgánicos y pacientes en parada cardíaca como donantes de tejidos, durante el período de 1 de enero al 31 de diciembre de 2014. Resultados: durante el 2014 en el Hospital Carlos Andrade Marín, se realizaron 11 procesos de procuración de órganos y tejidos; nueve de ellos siendo considerados efectivos, se trató de pacientes ingresados en los servicios de críticos de emergencias y terapia intensiva, a causa de Traumatismo Craneoencefálico Severo en el 66,6% y el 33,3% a causa de Hemorragia Intraencefálica, diagnosticados con criterios de Muerte Encefálica. Entre octubre a diciembre de 2014 se llevaron a cabo el 77,7% de las procuraciones, reflejando la puesta en práctica de estrategias y el trabajo de la procuración intrahospitalaria. Conclusiones: la promoción de estrategias para promover el aumento de número de donantes efectivos es el pilar del proceso de trasplante de órganos en el Hospital Carlos Andrade Marín. La negativa de donación por parte de familiares es baja (un caso), a partir del correcto desarrollo de las actividades planteadas en cada parte del proceso de procuración descrito en el presente artículo.

Introduction: globally we face the rapid increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, which often cause dysfunction of vital organs so it is estimated that there are a large number of patients waiting for a transplant. The probability of dying on the waiting list is high, so the organ procurement is an essential process in hospitals. Objectives: report the processes and results of the procurement of organs and tissues in the Carlos Andrade Marin Hospital during the period from january to december 2014, in order to encourage and promote this process. Materials and methods: this descriptive study reports the procurement process in which all neurocritical patients who met criteria for Brain Death as multiorgan donors and patients in cardiac arrest as tissue donors during the period included 1 january to 31 december 2014. Results: 11 organ procurement processes and tissues were performed during 2014 at the Carlos Andrade Marin Hospital; nine of them were considered effective. Organs came from patients admitted to the Critical Care Services in Emergency Room and Critical Care Medicine, causes of admission were: Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (66.6%) and intracerebral hemorrhage (33.3%), all diagnosed with criteria of death brain. Between october and december 2014 were held 77.7% of the activity, refecting the implementation of strategies and the work of the hospital procurement. Conclusions: the promotion of strategies to promote increased effective donors is the mainstay of the process of organ transplantation in the Carlos Andrade Marin Hospital. The refusal of donation from relatives is low (one case), thanks to the proper implementation of the proposed activities in every part of the procurement process described in this article.

Tratamento do potencial doador de múltiplos órgãos / Treatment of the multiple organs potential donator

Há significativa discrepância entre a demanda e o número de doações. Reduzir essa disparidade é o objetivo da otimização do cuidado ao potencial doador. O tratamento desse indivíduo não deve ser visto como investimento fútil em paciente sem recuperação clínica, mas como a única oportunidade de tratamento de outros nove doentes graves e, portanto, tais cuidados devem ser instituídos o mais precocemente possível. A morte encefálica, por si só, representa ameaça ao funcionamento dos demais órgãos e sistemas, além de, frequentemente, ocorrer num contexto em que coexistem outras afecções graves como, por exemplo, no politrauma. As alterações hemodinâmicas, eletrolíticas, hormonais, entre outras, surgem como complicações diretas ou indiretas e, se não contornadas, impedirão que a doação se concretize. Vários protocolos de manejo agressivo do potencial doador têm surgido com boa perspectiva de melhores resultados na condução desses pacientes. Por tudo isso, o cuidado clínico intensivo é imprescindível, visando ao aumento da oferta de órgãos para transplante

There is significant discrepancy between the demand and the number of donations. To reduce this disparity is the goal of the optimization of the potential donator treatment. This individual treatment cannot be seen as a futile investment on a patient without clinical recovery, but as the unique chance of treatment for other nine patients under grave situations. And, therefore, this treatment must be instituted as early as possible. Encephalic death, per se, represents a threat to the other organs and systems, besides, frequently, occurring in a context where already exist other grave affections, such as in the politrauma. The homodynamic, electrolytic, hormonal alterations, among others, appear as direct or indirect complications, and if they are not controlled they will prevent the donation to happen. Several protocols of aggressive handling of the potential donator have appeared with good perspective of better results in the conduction of these patients. For all these reasons, the intensive clinical treatment is indispensable aiming at the increase in the offer of organs for transplantation

Organ Transplantation and Biomedical Ethics: An Analysis of Hospital Organ Transplantation Policy and a Proposal of Ethical Guideline / 대한이식학회지

AIMS: This study was done to develop an ethical guideline for organ transplatation, a life-saving treatment which helps improve the quality of life. METHODS: This study begins with a survey of the Korean current state of affairs concerning organ transplantation. This study used a survey questionnaire and received responses from 31 hospitals out of 45 hospitals where organ transplantation are being done. After this survey, followed by a discussion of ethical considerations in arranging organ transplants. Before proposing an ethical guideline, this study discusses a series of interesting ethical issues in transplanting(both living and cadaveric)organs including ethical foundations of organ transplantation, distributive justice and matters of donor's consent in organ transplatation. RESULTS: The foremost research for this study boils down to a survey paper titled, "An Analysis of the Current State of Affairs Concerning Organ Transplantation and Ethical Considerations in Domestic and International Hospitals." Based upon data collected from various hospitals, this work analyzes items, such as the frequency and types of organs transplanted in a hospital, the existence of organ transplant coordinator, the performance of the hospital ethics committee, and ethical considerations in obtaining consents from the living donor. Although thousands of organs are annually transplanted in domestic hospitals, virtually none of them are found to meet ethically proper standards. The paper points out the need to institutionalize a nationwide cadaveric organ distribution organization like UNOS(United Network for Organ Sharing) in the U.S., and proposes to stretch out the national health insurance to extensively cover transplanting expenses. "The Ethical Foundation of Organ Transplantation", the author counts three key ethical principles in organ transplantation: the principle of respect for autonomy; the principle of beneficence; and the principle of justice. He argues that in cases of living donor no principle should take precedence over the principle of respect for autonomy and thus it is very important for a hospital to obtain the donor's consent. As for cadaveric organ transplantation, he holds reservation because he is worried that serious shortage of organs for transplantation in conjunction with pure utilitarian considerations could change the definition of death so that the brain death gains more popularity than ever. In addition, the author claims that the proponent of organ transplantation must distinguish the moral dimension of the discussion from the legal one because otherwise she would hardly be able to defend herself from the slippery slope argument against organ transplantation. This paper concludes with a note that we must implement restrictions to avoid undesired effects if organ transplantation could ever be justified. "A Discussion of Distributive Justice in Organ Transplantation" comprises two parts. The first half delineates above mentioned ethical principles in the context of organ transplantation, while the second half goes generally over the UNOS Point System. This work is focused entirely upon cadaveric organ transplants, because the vast majority of organs available for transplants comes from cadavers and the number is still increasing. The UNOS allocates cadaveric organs based upon both medical and justice criteria. Following are summaries of the UNOS policy on organ distribution. Every potential recipient of organ transplants must be listed on the UNOS computer system waiting list. Allocation of cadaveric kidneys consider factors such as waiting time, six antigen match, panel reactive antibody, blood group and age. The UNOS Point System allocates livers to the local patients first, followed by regional and national patients respectively, in order to limit ischemic time. A recipient of liver transplant belongs to one of five(0~4) medical status levels where status 4 is the most medically urgent. At the regional and national levels pancreas are allocated first to patients with excellent HLA matches, while at the local level waiting time is the sole factor. The intestinal organ allocation system is based on two(1~2) patient status codes, ABO blood type identity and time waiting. In heart or lung tranplants ischemic time seriously matters. "A Biomedical Study of Informed Consent from the Organ Donor" investigates several topics: the relevance of the principle of respect for autonomy as the basic principle of informed consent; how the autonomy of the organ donor to be respected; and the role of the hospital ethics committee in obtaining informed consent from the donor. The author finds the principle of respect for patient's autonomy not sufficient for the basic principle of the living donor's informed consent because there is some danger in which the patient may be left uncared-for, and thus she suggests that the principle of nonmaleficence and the principle of care also be considered. That the principle of respect for autonomy turns out not sufficient even for cadaveric organ donation, and so judgment based upon the best interest of the deceased may seem appropriate for people from some special groups. A medical team must make efforts to identify the donor's competence and voluntariness, i.e., preconditions of informed consent. All the relevant medical information should be disclosed to the living donor. Once the donor makes a judgment, medical experts should respect the donor's decision. This article puts an emphasis on the role of the hospital ethics committee in such activities as identifying donor's voluntariness, confirming the disclosure, and evaluating the minority's benefit. The last work in this paper, "A Moral Theological Investigation of the Presumed Consent in Organ Transplantation" talk about Principium Riflexum(the principle of reflection) in an attempt to explain the possibility that we may harvest cadaveric organs from the deceased who while alive had never expressed their wishes concerning organ donation. To apply the principle in the context of presumed consent, the author, a Catholic priest, introduces two elements of the principle. Probabilismus allows us to feel free to choose when we face dubious matters(in dubio libetas), and by the rule of selection we are justified in choosing whatever our consciousness mandates. He takes both elements to support the presumed consent of the deceased because he believes the good that people may contribute to their neighbors by donating organs would obviously override opposing reasons. Although the author argues for the presumed consent from the deceased, he does not overlook the family grief in donating the cadaveric organs. He concludes with a suggestion that we should work to keep the public aware of cadaveric organ donation and to form public opinions education should play a key role. CONCLUSION: Researcher suggest an Ethical Guideline for Organ Transplantation as our study conclusion. 1) Body organs may be transplanted to protect the health and well-being of the patient, but not for the medical or scientific research. 2) Body organs may be taken for transplantation, only with the consent from the donor. In cases of cadaveric donors who have left no formal consent in the lifetime, they are to be presumed to refuse to donate body organs. 3) In principle, cadaveric transplantation is preferred. Living donors are limited to competent adults who have blood ties with the patient, e.g., parents, children, or siblings of the patient. However, reversible tissue like bone marrows donation may be an exception to this limitation. In particular, no living donors may be put under inappropriate pressure or influences. Body organs may be taken from the living donor only if based upon sufficient and easy-to-understand information provided, the donor voluntarily consents after (s)he deliberately balances benefits against harm. 4) Under no circumstances human bodies, organs, or tissues may be sold or purchased for transplantation. A physician should not participate in any transplanting operations if (s)he becomes to know that the transplant has been obtained through a transaction. 5) Recipients of organs for transplantation should be determined in accordance with the principle of justice on the allocation of limited medical resources. 6) When a vital, single organ is to be transplanted, the death of the donor shall have been determined by at least one physician other than the recipient's physician. 7) Transplant procedures of body organs should be undertaken (a) only by physicians who possess special medical knowledge and technical competence developed through special training, study, and laboratory experience and practice, and (b) in medical institutions with adequate facilities. 8) All decision procedures in transplanting body organs should be objective, open to parties involved, kept accurately on record, and maintained for a given period of time.