Table 2

Compliance of DCD with the quality indictors for EOL care in the donor

Domains for EOL care

Quality indicators

DCD compliance

Patient and family-centered decision making

13

8

Communication within the team and with patients and families

10

4

Continuity of care

3

0

Emotional and practical support for patients and families

8

4

Symptom management and comfort care

10

1

Spiritual support for patients and families

3

1

Emotional and organizational support for ICU clinicians

6

1

Total

53

19

The 53 quality indicators within seven domains were developed by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Critical Care End-Of-Life Peer Workgroup [13]. The DCD is expected to comply with 19 out of 53 quality indicators for EOL care in the potential donor. DCD, donation after circulatory death; EOL, end-of-life; ICU, intensive care unit.

Rady et al. Critical Care 2006 10:166   doi:10.1186/cc5038