Getting better – health profession knowledge is key to improving deceased donation practices in South Africa

The early identification and referral of potential organ donors is essential to the organ donation process. Without recognition of the potential for donation by the treating clinical team, the process simply does not start. In their well-structured article, Prins and Human[1] have shown gaps in knowledge, and the need for education on the key steps in the organ donor pathway in South Africa (SA). While this study focuses on the intensive care unit (ICU) nurse, it could easily be extended to include the treating physician. End-of-life care is provided by a team interacting with the patient and family. The barriers highlighted by Prins and Human[1] (perceived extra work that taking a donor family through the consent process entails, lack of policy and guidance) are very real, and it is important that clinicians, nurses, hospital managers and transplant teams work within a system that ensures that the exploration of organ and tissue donation is a standard of care offered routinely at the end of life. This starts with assessing knowledge. As clinicians it is important to recognize that it is paternalistic of us to not give a patient and their family the option to support organ and tissue donation at the end of life whenever it is possible.