What is required for a patient to be considered for DCD donation?

For a patient to be considered for Donation after Cardiac Death (DCD), they must have severe brain injuries with no chance of recovery. DCD refers to a situation where a patient has a severe brain injury and does not meet the criteria for brain death, but is not expected to recover. The potential for organ donation arises after the patient has had their life-sustaining treatments withdrawn, leading to cardiac arrest. Therefore, it is crucial that the patient’s condition involves severe brain injury, as this classification determines their eligibility for DCD protocols.

In contrast, brain death criteria would typically apply to brain death donors, not DCD donors. Stable cardiovascular function is not relevant to DCD because the focus is on the cessation of cardiac activity after the withdrawal of life support. Lastly, having a registered organ donor card can facilitate donation if the individual qualifies, but it is not a requirement specifically for DCD considerations.