Organ Donation

Nurses General Nursing

Published

If you are an organ donor and have passed away, can a power of attorney override/change the decision of your organs to not be donated?

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As I understand it family consent is not required if you are registered, but usually sought anyway. I would doubt that the issue comes up often. However I don't think most hospitals would go against their wishes.

I could be wrong though. Any transplant nurses out there?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

You'll have to look into your own state laws on this as there is some variation. I (personally) know of many instances in which a patient's wishes have been overridden by relatives after the patient is no longer able to speak for her/himself. Most of the time, this is related to resuscitation or heroic measures.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Look at your state laws. In Illinois, THIS is the law:

On January 1, 2006, Illinois residents were able to join a Organ/Tissue Donor Registry, which made a person's wish to be a donor legally binding. Previously, family consent was needed before donation could occur. The registry ensures that a person's wish to be a donor is respected upon death.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

As others have said, each state is different.

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Each state is different. In mine your family can override your DNR which them eliminates the whole organ donation debate. I would start researching that. If your family won't let you die, your organs can't be shared anyway.

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