Can babies born with anencephaly donate organs?

About 1,000 anencephalic babies are born in the United States each year, and there is a shortage of hearts, livers and kidneys for transplantation in children. Organs may now be donated by anencephalic babies after death, but at that point the organs have deteriorated and cannot be used.

Can SIDS babies donate organs?

Most infants with SIDS are declared dead shortly after presentation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation is unsuccessful. However, infants who can be resuscitated may progress to brain death secondary to the hypoxic-ischemic event, thus becoming potential organ donors.

How does brain death affect organ donation?

Patients who have severe brain injuries but who are not brain dead may still be organ donors if the patient, by advance directive, or the patient’s family decides that life support should be withdrawn. After that decision is made, consent for organ donation is obtained.

What is anencephalic organ donation?

Organ donation may only be considered if the anencephalic infant has satisfied the criteria for brain death or somatic death as applied to other human beings. Physicians should ensure that the same ethical standards applied to other organ donors are used for infants with anencephaly.

Can you donate a stillborn baby to science?

Today, parents who receive a non-survivable diagnosis for their baby during pregnancy have more opportunities to create a lasting legacy for their baby’s beautiful but all-too-brief life by donating his or her organs and tissue for medical research.

Would it have been right to remove the infant’s organs thereby causing her immediate death to help other children?

Would it be right for the parents to remove Baby Theresa’s organs, thereby causing her immediate death, in order to help the other children? A. Yes, it would be right for the parents to do this.

Are you still alive when you donate organs?

You can donate some organs and tissues while you’re alive. Most living donations happen between family members or close friends. Other people choose to donate to someone they don’t know.

How long can organs survive after brain death?

Brain death is permanent and irreversible. It is a legal definition of death. However, the vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas and kidneys can be kept viable for a few days if supported by artificial or mechanical support.

What is neonatal organ donation?

Grieving parents are finding hope in neonatal organ donation, a practice that retrieves tissues and organs from babies who die at or soon after birth.