The outcome of kidneys transplanted following organ donation after euthanasia (ODE) remains unclear. This study analyzed all kidney transplantations in the Netherlands from January 2012 to December 2021, comparing the outcomes following ODE, donation after circulatory death (DCD-III), and donation after brain death (DBD). 9,208 kidney transplantations were performed: 148 ODE, 2118 DCD-III, and 1845 DBD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Organ donation after euthanasia (ODE) has been performed over 100 times in the Netherlands, primarily involving patients suffering from a neurodegenerative or psychiatric disease. In recent years, the number of euthanasia cases related to dementia has increased in the Netherlands, with some patients living with dementia expressing a wish for organ donation after euthanasia.
Methods: We describe a unique case of a 67-year-old female diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia as part of frontotemporal dementia who requested and underwent organ donation after euthanasia.
Euthanasia in psychiatric patients presents unique challenges, especially when combined with organ donation. In this article, the hurdles psychiatric patients might encounter after expressing their wish for organ donation after euthanasia, are discussed and illustrated by the case of Martijn, a 45-year-old psychiatric patient who altruistically donated his organs after euthanasia. Hospital and physician-related factors, including caution in determination of mental capacity, consideration of conflicting interests, and healthcare staff stress are discussed as impediments to organ donation after euthanasia (ODE) in psychiatric patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe would like to respond to the comment we received from our colleagues on our case report about organ donation after euthanasia starting at home. We reply to their statements on medical and legal aspects, and provide more information on our view of informed consent.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEuthanasia based on psychiatric suffering, followed by subsequent organ donation, is considered medically and legally permissible in the Netherlands. Although organ donation after euthanasia (ODE) in patients suffering from unbearable psychiatric illness is performed, it is not specifically addressed in the Dutch guideline on organ donation after euthanasia, and national data on ODE in psychiatric patients have not yet been published. In this article, the preliminary results of the 10-year Dutch case series of psychiatric patients who choose ODE are presented and potential factors influencing opportunities for donation in this population are discussed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A patient who fulfils the due diligence requirements for euthanasia, and is medically suitable, is able to donate his organs after euthanasia in Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada. Since 2012, more than 70 patients have undergone this combined procedure in the Netherlands. Even though all patients who undergo euthanasia are suffering hopelessly and unbearably, some of these patients are nevertheless willing to help others in need of an organ.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Recently, continuous nonoxygenated hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) has been implemented as standard preservation method for deceased donor kidneys in the Netherlands. This study was designed to assess the effect of the implementation of HMP on early outcomes after transplantation.
Methods: Kidneys donated in the Netherlands in 2016 and 2017 were intended to be preserved by HMP.
Background: Organ shortage remains a problem in transplantation. An expansion of the donor pool could be the introduction of unexpected donation after circulatory death (uDCD) donors. The goal of this study was to increase the number of transplantable kidneys and lungs by implementing a uDCD protocol.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe shortage of organs remains one of the biggest challenges in transplantation. To address this, we are increasingly turning to donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors and now in some countries to uncontrolled DCD donors. We consolidate the knowledge on uncontrolled DCD in Europe and provide recommendations and guidance for the development and optimization of effective uncontrolled DCD programmes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDonation after circulatory death (DCD) donors are becoming an increasingly important population of organ donors in Europe and worldwide. We report the state of the art regarding controlled DCD donation describing the organizational and technical aspects of establishing a controlled DCD programme and provide recommendations regarding the introduction and development of this type of programme.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF