Neurosurgeons and the Supply of Human Organs

Prologue: In organ transplantation policy, a fundamental issue is how to increase the supply of organs to meet the ever-growing demand. The problem is not a shortage of organ donors but rather a breakdown of the organ donation system in the procurement stage. In this article, Jeffrey Prottas and Helen Levine Batten offer some striking results from their survey of medical professionals involved in the organ procurement process. The findings seem to show that neurosurgeons—key players in organ procurement—are afraid to approach the families of potential donors. They fear upsetting the families in their time of grieving, when, in actuality, research has shown that families welcome the opportunity to donate and to make something positive out of death [Helen Levine Batten and Jeffrey M. Prottas, “Kind Strangers: The Families of Organ Donors” Health Affairs (Summer 1987)]. The article describes the various barriers that prevent neurosurgeons from asking families of “brain-dead” patients to consider donation. The authors write: “Understanding neurosurgeons' perceptions and attitudes is central to increasing the supply of organs.” Prottas is deputy director of the Bigel Institute for Health Policy, Heller Graduate School, Brandeis University, and has been affiliated with the institute for the past six years. Prior to joining Brandeis, he taught at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government as an associate professor. Prottas received his doctorate in political science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Batten is a senior research associate at the Bigel Institute and recently received her doctorate in sociology from Boston College.