A European perspective on organ procurement: breaking down the barriers to organ donation

A worldwide shortage of donor organs has led to the development of national and international systems for organ procurement and allocation. Such systems promote organ donation and ensure fair distribution of available donor organs through a combination of legislation, organ exchange organizations (OEOs), transplant coordinators, publicity campaigns, donor cards, and professional training programs. The development of national and international OEOs is central to this process because they maintain waiting lists and allocate organs in the most appropriate way. Most countries also employ transplant coordinators whose role involves promoting links between transplant centers and intensive care units, establishing protocols for organ donation, and helping hospital staff deal with the sensitive issues involved in organ donation. Educational initiatives, such as the European Donor Hospital Education Programme developed by Eurotransplant is now used in over 30 countries worldwide. The program aims to improve professionals' understanding of the legal and ethical issues involved in transplantation, to help them communicate effectively and sympathetically with bereaved families, and to increase organ donation rates. Other initiatives include programs such as the Donor Action Programme, which was set up by professional organizations in the US and Europe aiming to help hospitals establish tailor-made organ procurement policies to ensure that all potential donors can be identified and reported and the needs of unfortunate families can be met in a caring and sensitive manner.