Is prognosis key in donation?

doi:10.1136/bmj.39234.443646.3A

BMJ 2007;334:1179 (9 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39234.443646.3A

Letters

Presumed consent

Is prognosis key in donation?

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

Potts (previous letter) highlights an often misunderstood aspectof organ donation: that death is not always what it seems, especiallyto relatives.¹ However, I wonder whether his concerns are predominantlymotivated by theological considerations?

I suspect the key word is prognosis, as accepted by a wide consensusof peers. The heart may still be beating, but if the prognosisis bleak why not let someone else have a chance of a longerlife?

Richard Bartley, physiotherapist

Denbigh Infirmary, Denbigh, Clwyd LL16 3ES

monty.python@mac.com

Competing interests: None declared.

English V. Is presumed consent the answer to organ shortages? Yes. BMJ 2007;334:1088. (26 May.)[Free Full Text]

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Is presumed consent the answer to organ shortages? Yes: Veronica English
BMJ 2007 334: 1088. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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