Valerie Corder, RN, CTBS, Allen Brown, CEBT, Ellen Heck, MT (ASCP), MA, CEBT
donor designation
Availability of donated eyes, tissue and organs in a volume and timeliness sufficient to meet patient needs has long been a universal challenge. This review of the donor designation data as compiled by Donate Life America, examines the effectiveness of First Person Authorization (Donor Designation or Donor Registration) in increasing the availability of allografts for transplantation and looks at factors that may influence successful gains in the number of registrants. Current reports appear to indicate the program has had the most substantial effect in increases in eye and tissue recovery, with a lesser increase in available organs due perhaps in part to differences in availability and compatibility constraints.
Donor Designation rates in several states are used as an example of the effectiveness of this program, and also point out some areas of deficiency. While overall impact appears positive, there are unexplained factors which warrant further exploration.
Donate Life America. “2014 National Donor Designation Report Card.” June 2014. Web. 7 April 2014; http://organdonor.gov/whydonate/index.html
Donate Life America. “2010 National Donor Designation Report Card.” http://blog.chron.com/medblog/files/legacy/archives/donorreportcard.pdf
Donate Life Texas.org
Traino H, Siminoff L. “Attitudes and acceptance of First Person Authorization: A National Comparison of Donor and Nondonor Families.” J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013:74 (1):294-300
Aguilar J. “Organ Donations Lag in South Texas and Culture is a Factor.” http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/us/06ttdonation.html
Rodrigue JR, Cornell DL, Howard RJ. “Organ Donation Decision: Comparison of Donor and Nondonor Families.” American J Transplant 2006 Jan; (6)1 190-198
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Healthcare Systems Bureau, 2012 National Survey of Organ Donation Attitudes and Behaviors. Rockville, Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013.
The Evolution of Eye Banking and Regulatory Standards in Canada
Medical Examiner and Eye Banks as Partners for Transplantation in the United States
Donor Designation Impact on the Availability of Transplantable Allografts in the United States
Eye Donation Project: Differences Between Donors Versus Refusers
The International Journal of Eye Banking welcomes submissions from eye bankers, researchers, physicians or others involved in eye banking and corneal transplantation.
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