In the U.S., once death is declared in a hospital (after a car accident or other cause), the organ donation process follows strict medical and legal steps:
1. Death Declaration
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Doctor pronounces death based on:
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Cardiac death (heart and breathing stop, no return despite resuscitation)
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Brain death (irreversible cessation of all brain function), confirmed by accepted medical standards and usually two physicians.
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This is done before organ donation discussions.
2. Notify Organ Procurement Organization (OPO)
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Federal law (U.S.): Hospitals must notify their OPO whenever a patient meets clinical triggers for potential donation.
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The OPO:
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Reviews eligibility.
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Checks donor registry.
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Assigns a coordinator.
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3. Family Authorization or Registry Check
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If the patient is a registered donor → OPO proceeds with consent on file.
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If not registered → OPO asks the next of kin for consent.
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Hospital staff do NOT ask for organs; only trained OPO coordinators do this.
4. Organ Preservation and Matching
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If death was from brain death:
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Life support is maintained temporarily to keep organs viable.
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OPO enters donor data into the UNOS system (United Network for Organ Sharing) to match recipients.
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Blood type, tissue type, urgency, and location determine allocation.
5. Organ Recovery Surgery
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Done in an operating room, by transplant surgeons.
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After recovery, the body is prepared for funeral arrangements per family wishes.
6. Timeline
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Must act quickly:
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Hearts/lungs: 4–6 hours after removal.
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Kidneys/liver: 12–36 hours.
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