Organ donation from children: Time for legal, ethical and cultural change

Abstract

Successful transplantation has lead to increasing need for donated organs from children; however, contemporaneously decreased brain-death rates means optimization of donation processes is crucial. Although excellent palliative care and organ donation are compatible, discrepancies exist both between and within European countries in abilities to offer families donation opportunities. Change will require address of legal, ethical and cultural barriers, and this review aims to explore such changes pertinent to both dead and living organ donation. Conclusion: We argue that across Europe it is surely time for legal, ethical and cultural change to facilitate parents, families and of course children in having the choice of donation. © 2011 The Author(s)/Acta Pædiatrica © 2011 Foundation Acta Pædiatrica.