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

## TL;DR

This paper explores ethical issues in organ donation, focusing on conflicts of interest between patient care and donation processes, and examines best practices in four European countries.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a comparative analysis of current practices in four European countries to determine optimal strategies for managing conflicts of interest in organ donation.

## Key findings

- Current best practices in four European countries show varying approaches to managing conflicts of interest in organ donation.
- Clear separation of roles may help avoid conflicts, but the benefits and burdens of disclosure remain important considerations.
- The paper highlights the ethical implications of healthcare professionals' dual roles in patient care and donation facilitation.

## 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.