To whom should the nurse refer potential organ donors?

• A. Local organ procurement organization
• B. Hospital ethics committee
• C. Transplant surgeon
• D. General practitioner

Answer: (A)

Connecting with the local organ procurement organization is the essential step when a potential donor is identified. The local OPO is the federally designated entity that coordinates all aspects of donation—from evaluating medical suitability and obtaining consent to notifying transplant centers and arranging organ recovery. The nurse’s role is to initiate this process promptly by referring the potential donor to the OPO so the donation opportunity can be explored ethically and efficiently. The hospital ethics committee may handle complex ethical questions, and a transplant surgeon becomes involved later in the plan for actual organ transplantation, but the first and most appropriate referral for a potential donor is the local organ procurement organization. A general practitioner does not manage hospital-based donor identification and coordination.