患者尚有生命迹象时器官就被摘除？美国卫生部开始整改器官移植

Core Points - The investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed that some organ procurement organizations began organ harvesting activities while patients were still alive, raising ethical concerns about organ transplantation [1][3] - The HHS investigation reviewed 351 cases of authorized but incomplete organ donations, finding that in Kentucky, 73 patients exhibited neurological signs inconsistent with organ donation, and at least 28 patients may not have been deceased when procurement procedures were initiated [1][3] - HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the need for accountability among organ procurement organizations and called for systemic reforms to ensure respect for potential donors' lives [3] Investigation Findings - The investigation uncovered insufficient neurological assessments of organ donors, issues with informed consent procedures, and misclassification of causes of death in several cases [3] - The "Network for Hope," a federally funded organ procurement organization serving parts of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia, has been mandated to implement corrective measures or risk losing its certification [3] Ethical Concerns - The incident has reignited debates over organ donation standards, particularly regarding the timing of organ removal after cardiac arrest, as brain activity may not cease immediately [4] - Experts highlight that it typically takes over four minutes for brain neurons to die completely after cardiac arrest, complicating the organ removal timeline [4] Standards and Practices - The director of NYU Langone Transplant Institute stated that their hospital adheres to strict protocols, requiring a five-minute wait after declaring circulatory death before organ removal [5] - In contrast, a domestic transplant expert noted that organ transplantation in China requires meeting both brain death and circulatory death criteria, with brain death being a necessary condition [6]