Abstract

The clinical audit was conducted with the aim of finding out whether there were patients who died in Estonian general, local, and central hospitals in 2023 who could have been considered for potential organ donation. The readiness of medical institutions to deal with potential donors was examined, as well as how patients were viewed and what may have caused information about these patients not reaching the persons coordinating organ donation in Estonia. The auditors found that out of 148 patients eligible for the sample, twenty-seven were not identified as potential donors in central hospitals and eight in lower-level hospitals. The probable reasons cited were that the possibility of organ donation was not considered at all or patients were considered not to be suitable for it. Medical institutions also mostly lack instructional materials that could help in decision-making, as well as specially trained staff. The audit highlighted the need for general awareness-raising, nationwide guidelines and systematic training.