Edinburgh Napier University

  In the U.K. the requirement for organs grows daily and sadly many people will die before an organ for transplant becomes available. In an effort to improve the supply of organs some clinicians are now looking to the A&E department to identify potential organ donors occurring as a result of a sudden death in the department. Many people take the view that hundreds of potential organs are wasted every year, as a result of the A&E departments' failure to notify the organ transplant co-ordinator of a potential donor in sufficient time to seek consent from the relatives. This paper will explore the legal and ethical principles which underpin the current organ donations system in the U.K., and explore the rationale for the reluctance of the majority of A&E departments to utilise this option. Some possible solutions to the conflicts which this option presents to the A&E nurse will be proposed.