Program to Activate the Notification of the Potential Donors

Transplantation has developed as an established treatment modality for end-stage organ diseases. However, the shortage of available organs remains the main obstacle to organ transplantation. The big discrepancy between the number of potential recipients on the waiting list and cadaveric transplantations has become a serious issue in Korea. The first step in the process of cadaveric organ donation is the identification of potential donors. The identification and notification of potential donors are essential for the activation of cadaveric organ donations. To increase the number of brain dead donors following components are critical: the increase of public understanding of organ donation, improvement of legal and systematic processes, establishment of a donor action program, interests and cooperation of attending physicians, and management of an organ donation process focused on donor families. Public education and campaign are also crucial to the understanding of brain death and organ donation. To improve legal and systematic processes, required referrals or routine notifications are advisable. Also, presumed consent is necessary to decrease the psychological stress on donor families during the agreement process. For the effective management of a donor action program, an education program to well-train medical staff and medical record reviews should be maintained. In conclusion, a comprehensive donor action program including a practical donor detection system, an education program, and improvement of the organ donation system are mandatory to increase the cadaveric organ donations effectively.