Futility and End-of-Life Organ Donation After Traumatic Injuries: Caring for Organs or Patients

Prehospital organ recovery programs are implemented to supply transplantable organs. Rapid organ recovery ambulances are dispatched¹ to trauma scenes to resuscitate and transport potential donors to hospital-independent procurement facilities.² Jacobs et al³ may alternatively refer to such a procurement facility as a new facility. To facilitate organ recovery after trauma, it is essential to address (1) public concerns about accuracy of determining futility in prehospital or emergency department settings and (2) diverse cultural and religious values and beliefs about end-of-life care.