Today, the OPTN Board of Directors approved policy changes related to donation after circulatory death (DCD) that strengthen protections for potential donor patients throughout the DCD process. The changes establish clearer patient safety protections, enhance information provided to potential donor families, and promote greater consistency and accountability in DCD practices.
The policy changes were developed, in part, to address a HRSA directive to the OPTN to strengthen safeguards for potential donor patients entering the DCD pathway and improve communication with their families.
The Board-approved changes establish new and enhanced patient safety requirements throughout the DCD process, including:
- Requirement of a formal process to pause a DCD case when concerns arise regarding a patient’s safety during the organ donation process, including education to families, clinical professionals, and others involved of their ability to call for a pause;
- Defined procedures for addressing and resolving unplanned pauses;
- Required reporting of unplanned DCD pauses to improve transparency and oversight;
- Clear requirements for neurological assessment documentation and escalation of identified discrepancies between donor hospital facilitated and organ procurement organization (OPO) facilitated assessments;
- More comprehensive information for patient families about the organ donation process to support informed decision-making; and
- Adoption of a standardized, minimum waiting period of five minutes between circulatory cessation and commencement of organ recovery.
Together, these requirements will strengthen protections for patients who may become organ donors through the DCD pathway, improve transparency for their families, and promote greater consistency and accountability throughout the DCD process.
The OPTN will provide implementation guidance and educational resources, including an informational webinar and frequently asked questions, in the coming weeks to help organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and other professionals understand and implement the new patient safety requirements.
For the latest information, visit the DCD Policy webpage.