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Barriers to child organ donation 'need to be addressed' across Europe

European countries need to address the legal, ethical and cultural barriers to child organ donation, according to a leading UK children's hospital.

A review of issues surrounding child organ donation carried out by Great Ormond Street Hospital suggested that restrictions on living donations and the inconsistent application of brain-death criteria are increasing problems.

The review points out that most viable organs are only available from heart-beating donors, who have suffered brain death. However, there are discrepancies about how old an infant needs to be before this criteria is applied.

The findings, which are published in the September issue of Acta Paediatrica, also criticised the absence of a centralised agency to oversee organ donations throughout Europe.

Lead author Dr Joe Brierley explained: "Far fewer deceased donors exist for children compared to adults.

"Incompatible organ size and relatively low donation rates mean that, despite living parental donation and innovations to reduce donated organ size, children often die before organs become available."

Posted by Angela Newbury