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Anonymous donation: a transplant center's experience.
Heather Mitzel1, Michele Snyders
1South Dakota Renal Transplant Center of Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
Summary
This study details a kidney transplant center's creation of an anonymous donor protocol to meet rising organ demands. It covers the decision-making process, ethical considerations, and the final protocol for living donors.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Transplantation Surgery
- Medical Ethics
Background:
- Increasing demand for organ transplantation.
- Need for alternative donor sources in kidney transplantation.
- Historical context of living donor programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the development of an anonymous donor protocol at a kidney transplant center.
- To review the decision-making process and ethical dilemmas encountered.
- To present the established protocol and anticipated challenges.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of program development.
- Identification of the multidisciplinary team involved.
- Analysis of the ethical considerations and decision-making framework.
Main Results:
- A protocol for anonymous kidney donation was successfully developed.
- Key ethical dilemmas and their resolutions were identified.
- The established protocol addresses practical and ethical concerns.
Conclusions:
- Anonymous living donation is a viable strategy to expand the donor pool.
- Careful ethical deliberation and a structured protocol are crucial for program success.
- This model offers insights for other transplant centers facing organ shortages.