BMJ  2008;336:1346-1347 (14 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39575.561898.94

Analysis

Best interests and potential organ donors

John Coggon, British Academy postdoctoral fellow1, Margaret Brazier, professor1, Paul Murphy, consultant in anaesthesia and critical care 2, David Price, professor3, Muireann Quigley, research fellow in bioethics and law1

1 Centre for Social Ethics and Policy and Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation, School of Law, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, 2 Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, 3 School of Law, De Montfort University, Leicester

Correspondence to: J Coggon John.Coggon@manchester.ac.uk

Many potential donor organs are currently lost because of misunderstanding of the law. John Coggon and colleagues clarify what is permissible in non-heart-beating donation

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The United Kingdom, in common with many countries, faces a shortage of donor organs for transplantation.1 One of the obstacles to increased donation is the widespread view within the medical profession that it is unlawful to alter the management of a patient who is dying solely to improve or maintain the prospect of that patient becoming an organ donor after death.2 Such concerns are particularly relevant to controlled non-heart-beating organ donation, where organs are taken from patients who have a cardiorespiratory death after the planned withdrawal of active support in intensive care units.3 Although this was the original model of cadaveric donation in the UK, it has proved contentious since its re-emergence as an important source of donor organs in recent years.4 We explore how the concept of best interests should be understood, and thereby show that apparent ethicolegal objections to controlled non-heart-beating organ donation by patients who are unable . . . [Full text of this article]


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An expanded interpretation of best interests is just one aspect of NHBOD which requires high-level endorsement
M D Dominic Bell
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