RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Legal and ethical aspects of organ donation after euthanasia in Belgium and the Netherlands
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 486
OP 489
DO 10.1136/medethics-2015-102898
VO 42
IS 8
A1 Jan Bollen
A1 Rankie ten Hoopen
A1 Dirk Ysebaert
A1 Walther van Mook
A1 Ernst van Heurn
YR 2016
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/42/8/486.abstract
AB Organ donation after euthanasia has been performed more than 40 times in Belgium and the Netherlands together. Preliminary results of procedures that have been performed until now demonstrate that this leads to good medical results in the recipient of the organs. Several legal aspects could be changed to further facilitate the combination of organ donation and euthanasia. On the ethical side, several controversies remain, giving rise to an ongoing, but necessary and useful debate. Further experiences will clarify whether both procedures should be strictly separated and whether the dead donor rule should be strictly applied. Opinions still differ on whether the patient's physician should address the possibility of organ donation after euthanasia, which laws should be adapted and which preparatory acts should be performed. These and other procedural issues potentially conflict with the patient's request for organ donation or the circumstances in which euthanasia (without subsequent organ donation) traditionally occurs.