General Discussion

But the representative said she was merely notifying them — not asking permission. She said the organization had the right to procure the patient’s organs and to continue life support in the meantime, regardless of family objection. Now understandably irate, the family reversed their decision to withdraw life support. If heroic measures were going to continue, they said, they should be used to save the patient’s life, not someone else’s. Our patient died within a day despite aggressive intervention — leaving the family traumatized, the organs unusable and our care team shattered.