Problems in the identification of potential organ donors. Misconceptions and fallacies associated with donor cards
T. D. Overcast, R. W. Evans, L. E. Bowen, M. M. Hoe and C. L. Livak
A survey of organ procurement programs and district attorneys' offices was
undertaken in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine to
what extent organ donor cards were effective in obtaining organs for
purposes of transplantation. Results of the survey revealed that all 50
states and the District of Columbia have adopted some form of the Uniform
Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA), but in 47 states, even when a signed donor card
is available, surgeons still require family approval for removal of organs
despite the fact that the provisions of the UAGA do not require this. In
addition, it was found that while 44 states have a provision on their
permanent drivers' licenses for organ donation, no state requires drivers
to indicate whether they want to donate organs. While there is little
information on the number of persons who actually carry donor cards, four
states indicated that between 1.7% and 8.5% of their drivers were
designated as donors. In Colorado, however, it was reported that 60% of all
drivers are designated as donors. Nevertheless, in all states it was
determined that few actual donors were carrying donor cards at the time of
their death. It must therefore be concluded that while donor cards are an
excellent educational medium and certainly facilitate the activities of
transplant coordination, they are not an effective means of substantially
increasing the supply of organs for transplantation.
