I'm questioning a policy my hospital has and am wondering what other hospitals do. I have not encountered this at other hospitals mainly because they've been larger, and have had "death coordinators" to do this, so I wasn't directly involved.
At this hospital, though, it is required that we call the organ bank within 1 hr of all deaths and go through a very time-intensive question and answer process about the pt and their diagnosis, how they died, etc, sometimes involving the MD. The last 2 I've been involved in have taken about 45min, after which they have denied the pt. We call for ALL patients, not just those with an organ donation card. In fact, our policy even states:
"The opportunity for organ, eye and/or tissue donation should not be discussed with next of kin without NEOB involvement. NEOB must screen a patient for medical suitability prior to next of kin being offered the option for donation."
I find this really weird. First question is, where is HIPAA in this? Next, if I think as a patient's family, what if I am totally against organ donation and yet the nurse is giving all this personal information to the organ bank about my loved one - what if the organ bank says, yes, they would like this person's organs/tissue? Am I, as the RN, supposed to go into that deceased patient's room and try to convince the family that they should donate?
