Donation after euthanasia

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Organ donation after euthanasia

There are a few things that determine whether donation after euthanasia is actually possible. For example, the patient's condition and the illness the patient has. The organs must also be healthy and still good enough for transplantation.

To determine this, the patient undergoes various examinations before the euthanasia. These sometimes take place at home, but always in the hospital as well. The examinations sometimes show that someone cannot donate organs, or that not all organs are suitable. The patient may decide at any time not to want to donate organs after all, even after the examinations.

Does someone choose organ donation after euthanasia? Then it is not possible to die at home. The doctors must remove the organs shortly after death, which can only be done in the hospital. However, it may be possible to say goodbye at home and be put to sleep there. After that, the patient is taken to the hospital and the euthanasia is performed.

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Tissue donation after euthanasia

Tissue donation after euthanasia is possible up to about 86 years of age. With tissue donation, it is not necessary to undergo additional examinations before the euthanasia. However, the doctor looks at the patient's condition and illness. Sometimes tissue donation is not possible for that reason.

With tissue donation, the euthanasia can take place at home and someone can die at home. Afterwards, the donor is taken to a hospital or funeral home, where the surgery to remove the tissues takes place.

Saying goodbye in organ donation after euthanasia

If someone chooses organ donation after euthanasia, it can be difficult for the surviving relatives. Saying goodbye is often different than when someone does not donate organs. They must say goodbye within five minutes after death, because the surgery must begin shortly after death. Also, with organ donation, the patient cannot die at home. It is therefore important that the patient discusses the decision thoroughly with their loved ones and their (family) doctor.

With organ donation after euthanasia, it is possible to say goodbye at home and be put to sleep there. Afterward, the patient is taken to the hospital and the euthanasia is administered. The patient can also consider this option and discuss it with loved ones and the (family) doctor. Furthermore, the patient may still decide at any time not to become a donor after all.

After the donation

If surviving relatives want to know if the organ transplantations were successful, they will hear this from the organ donation coordinator. This is someone who ensures the donation procedure runs as smoothly as possible.

If you want to know the results of the tissue donation, you can tell the doctor. Then, after about a week, you will receive a letter from the Dutch Transplantation Foundation stating which tissues were donated and a brochure with information about the use of donated tissue.

You will not be told who received the organs or tissues. That remains anonymous. That is stipulated by law.

Sometimes a recipient of a donor organ or tissues writes a thank-you letter to the surviving relatives. The letter is anonymous and you will receive it via the NTS. The surviving relatives will only receive such a letter if they want to.