What type of death does DCD refer to for organ recovery?

DCD stands for Donation after Cardiac Death. This term specifically refers to the process of recovering organs from a donor after the irreversible cessation of cardiac function. In this context, cardiopulmonary death is characterized by the stopping of the heart and breathing, which are critical indicators of death. The focus is on the moment when the heart stops beating, indicating that the person can no longer be resuscitated and that organ viability for transplantation is then assessed.

In DCD, the recovery of organs only occurs after a waiting period following cardiac arrest to ensure that death has been confirmed. This differs from neurological death, which involves the cessation of brain activity while the heart and lungs may still be functioning with mechanical assistance. The other options, while related to the concept of death, do not directly align with the specific criteria involved in organ recovery under DCD protocols. Legal death is a broader term that could apply to various situations but isn't specific to the context of organ donation after cardiac death.