The procedure
Organ donation after euthanasia requires careful preparation. Below you can read step by step how it works.
The procedure at a glance
An overview of the eight steps, from your first request to the aftercare.
Preparation
1Your request- 2Assessment
- 3Introduction
- 4Screening
The day itself
5Euthanasia- 6Five minutes
- 7Donation operation
Afterwards
8Farewell
1. You express your wish
You tell your physician that you wish to donate organs after the euthanasia. The request preferably comes from you yourself, and may be based on an advance directive.
2. The euthanasia request is assessed separately
First it is assessed whether all due-care criteria for euthanasia have been met, including the opinion of an independent second physician. The wish to donate plays no part in this whatsoever.
3. Preparatory conversation
A preparatory conversation takes place with the organ donation coordinator and the physician who will perform the euthanasia, either at your home or in hospital. The whole procedure is explained and you discuss how you would like to say goodbye.
4. Medical screening for suitability
Tests such as blood and urine analysis, a CT scan and an ultrasound are used to see which organs are suitable. The organ donation coordinator supports you during the tests and can, if you wish, show you the room where the euthanasia will take place. Depending on your age and medical situation, the kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, pancreas and tissues can be donated.
5. Euthanasia
You come to the hospital with your relatives; if necessary you are brought by ambulance. The euthanasia usually takes place in a room in the intensive care unit. You receive an intravenous line to administer the euthanasia medication and an arterial line in the wrist artery so that blood can still be taken and blood pressure monitored. Your own physician performs the euthanasia and your relatives can stay with you until the moment of death.
6. Determination of death
Once the blood pressure has fallen away completely, a statutory waiting time of five minutes follows, after which your physician determines death.
7. The donation operation
You are taken to the operating theatre and the organs are retrieved. This is done with the same care and respect as in any other operation. It usually takes two to four hours.
8. Farewell and aftercare
After the donation operation your relatives can be with you again and say goodbye once more. The body is cared for and handed over to the funeral director. Relatives can later have a follow-up conversation and receive information about the donation.
How long does the whole process take?
Expect several weeks to several months between your request and the procedure. The medical assessment of the euthanasia request usually sets the pace; the donation pathway only starts once the treating physician has confirmed that the due-care criteria have been met.
You may stop at any time
You can decide at any moment not to donate, or not to proceed with the euthanasia. This has no consequences for your further care.
The role of the donation coordinator
The donation coordinator is the linchpin of the pathway. This specialist nurse from the transplant centre supports you and your relatives and makes sure every medical and logistical step fits together.
- Assesses with your physician whether donation is medically possible and which organs qualify.
- Arranges the screening: the tests mentioned earlier (blood and urine tests, CT scan and ultrasound), plus tissue typing.
- Plans the day itself: hospital room, retrieval team, operating theatre and timeline.
- Is your fixed contact person for questions, including practical matters such as saying goodbye and the funeral.
- Coordinates organ allocation with Eurotransplant.
- Contacts relatives afterwards and can share anonymised information about the outcome of the donation.
You can ask to speak to the donation coordinator at any time, including early on and before you have made a final decision.