[Ethical concerns around donors after cessation of active treatment]

Abstract

The cessation of treatment in intensive care leads to death through circulatory arrest. In these circumstances there is an opportunity to remove organs, if that was the wish of the patient. This raises legitimate ethical questions. A French national protocol defines the conditions of this donation and ensures a harmonisation of practices as well as an overall improvement in end-of-life support in intensive care. These donors represent an opportunity to increase the number of organs available for transplant.

Keywords: circulatory death donor; don d’organes; donneur décédé en arrêt circulatoire; ethics; intensive care; limitation and cessation of treatment; limitation et arrêt de traitement; organ donation; réanimation; éthique.