The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) places patient care and safety at the forefront of our mission. We are extremely concerned about allegations reported in the NPR article “‘Horrifying’ mistake to take organs from a living person was averted, witnesses say.” ASTS fully supports a thorough investigation into this incident by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Board of Directors to ensure a comprehensive understanding of what happened and to take action as needed when the facts are analyzed.
Incidents of this nature should be reported to law enforcement officials and, as appropriate, to the Membership and Professional Standards Committee of the OPTN. This case is highly concerning, however, it does not reflect common experiences in the transplant community. Policies and procedures are in place along with checks and balances by trained professionals who are prepared to ensure patient safety along the entire complex process in which organ donation and transplantation occurs. There are independent groups of professionals comprised of hospital personnel, coordinators from the organ procurement organizations, and organ procurement surgeons and team members who participate in distinct aspects of this process. For example, it is important to clarify that organ procurement surgeons and transplant surgeons do not participate in the declaration of death. Strict protocols are in place to ensure that intended donors are indeed deceased before proceeding with organ procurement. Organ procurement surgeons review key information in donor medical records to verify the donor identification and that there is documentation of declaration of death, blood type compatibility and other test results. If ambiguity about the donor condition occurs after death has been declared, proceeding with organ procurement should be halted and the entire situation reevaluated. Organ donation is critical for patients with end stage organ failure, and we are mindful of the consequences that allegations and incidents like this could have on public confidence in organ donation. Our professional organization continues to prioritize patient safety through robust education, surgical training and procedural standards.