Ethical issues in organ donation

• Vital organs may be procured only from patients declared dead (dead donor rule). • Increasing numbers of organs are being procured from patients declared dead by cardiorespiratory criteria following withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (DCD). • The AAP holds that children may serve as living hematopoietic stem cell and solid organ donors as long as certain conditions are met. • Recent modifications to the OPTN allocation scheme prioritizes children for organs procured from other children (and, in some cases, young adults).