AUTHOR=Shaw David , Jansen Nichon Esther , Pérez-Blanco Alicia , Floden Anne , Ploeg Rutger Jan , Cooper Jessie , Wind Tineke Jentina , Gardiner Dale 

TITLE=Mapping and Handling Conflicts of Interest in Deceased Organ Donation: How to Handle Ethical Issues and Build Trust in the Healthcare Team

JOURNAL=Transplant International

VOLUME=Volume 38 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/transplant-international/articles/10.3389/ti.2025.14235

DOI=10.3389/ti.2025.14235

ISSN=1432-2277

ABSTRACT=It has been suggested that there is a significant conflict of interest between providing best care for the dying patient and a subsidiary role in facilitating the donation process. Should healthcare professionals who are involved in a patient’s care and determination of death also be involved in discussing donation with families? If they are involved, should they disclose this potential conflict of interest? In this paper we address the issue of conflicts of interest in organ donation by examining current best practice in four European countries (Sweden, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Spain) and discuss whether having clear separation of roles in order to avoid conflicts is preferable to having the same physician (or team) handle both the dying process and donation. We also analyse the benefits and burdens of disclosing such potential conflicts.