Advising Voluntary Assisted Dying Patients About the Option of Organ Donation: Ethical and Practical Considerations

Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) provides a pathway to organ donation distinct from typical pathways requiring withdrawal of cardiorespiratory support. Patients considering VAD now have the option to be donors and benefit others through donation and transplantation. This is not widely known in the community. In this article, we consider the ethical issues in advising VAD patients about the option of organ donation. We balance patient autonomy against the risks of coercion and conflict of interest. All eligible patients should be advised about the option so they can make an informed decision. However, the timing and source of information are critical in ensuring that patients can make a well-considered, ethically sound choice. We propose a pathway for provision of information about organ donation for patients considering VAD.