Determinants of familial consent to organ donation in the hospital setting

More than half of the nation's donor potential is lost due either to failure to identify medically suitable potential donors, or to family refusal to donate. While family consent rates typically average around 50% we show that these rates can be substantially improved by incorporating a few simple request process elements that are designed to meet the needs of grieving families. If relevant critical care and OPO staff are trained and empowered to carry out high-quality request procedures, consent rates, and donation overall can increase substantially.