The physician's perspective: a survey of attitudes toward organ donor management

The demand for suitable organs in the United States greatly outweighs the supply of transplantable organs. It has been estimated that approximately half of all potential donors do not donate. Preexisting barriers seem to impede donation, and the physician is a vital link in this process. To better understand the physician's perspective and to identify barriers that may produce difficulties in the process, a survey of physicians in northern Ohio was conducted. Respondents identified the following barriers: consensus in tests performed in the diagnosis of death is lacking, ambivalence exists with respect to informing families of the patient's death and offering families the donation option, and physicians do not seem to recognize the importance of decoupling the discussion of brain death from the request for organs. Although physicians surveyed were in favor of donation and transplantation, an effort should be made to increase awareness in personal attitudes that may affect the donation process.