Donation quality standard

Download the quality standard

During the introduction of the Organ Donation Act in the Senate, the Nooren motion was adopted. It called for a national standard. The goal was uniform care for relatives and a clear division of roles between doctors and surviving relatives during the donation conversation. All doctors are obliged to adhere to this quality standard.

Legal framework

Since the new law, the following applies:

• Anyone who does not actively register themselves is listed in the Donor Register with a 'no objection' registration.
• The possibility for surviving relatives, in the event of a 'yes' or 'no objection' registration, to make it plausible that this registration does not correspond to the patient's wish as it allegedly existed according to the relatives.
• The possibility of donation for incompetent individuals.

The standard describes, among other things, how doctors can inform relatives about the registration. It also outlines which surviving relatives have decision-making authority and what to do in cases of incompetence or children.

These topics are also included in the Model Protocol:

• Decision-making authority: Model Protocol (4.7)
• Incompetence: Model Protocol (3.3)
• Children under 18: Protocol Child as donor

Qualitative research

Sanne van Oosterhout (IQ healthcare Radboudumc) conducted qualitative research into the implementation of the quality standard.

• Interview with Sanne: How does the Quality Standard work in practice?
• Reaction from intensivist Farid Abdo: What can doctors do with the advice?