Donor advocacy with special reference to Belgium

Area of Science:

• Transplantation Medicine
• Bioethics
• Organ Donation Policy

Background:

• Donor advocacy was initially integrated into living kidney donation teams.
• The inherent risks of living liver donation highlighted the necessity for dedicated donor advocacy.
• Current organ donation practices necessitate a broader scope for donor advocacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the evolution and scope of donor advocacy in organ transplantation.
• To advocate for the expansion of donor advocacy beyond living donation.
• To emphasize the importance of experienced professionals in organ donation and transplantation.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical practices in organ donation.
• Analysis of legal and policy frameworks (Belgian law, EU Directives).
• Case study considerations for living liver donation and deceased donation scenarios.

Main Results:

• Donor advocacy was an intrinsic part of early living kidney donation.
• Living liver donation underscored the critical need for specialized donor support.
• The scope of donor advocacy must extend to deceased donation (brain-dead and cardiac-dead).

Conclusions:

• Donor advocacy is essential across all organ donation types.
• Implementing comprehensive donor advocacy requires skilled professionals in organ donation and transplantation.
• The fundamental right of patients to donate organs must be upheld.