Donation after Cardiac Death (DCD)

Donation after Cardiac Death (DCD) refers to the process of organ donation that occurs after a patient has been declared dead based on the irreversible loss of cardiac function. In DCD, life support is withdrawn from patients who are not expected to recover. After a short waiting period to confirm the absence of cardiovascular function, organs can be harvested for transplantation. This approach expands the donor pool, allowing the gift of life to continue from those who have chosen to donate, while also respecting the timing of death based on both medical and ethical considerations.