Federal legislation requiring all U.S. hospitals to establish written protocols for identifying potential organ donors. The Act also requires hospitals to notify their designated OPO of potential organ donors to:
Ensure that families of potential organ donors are made aware of the option of organ or tissue donation and their option to decline, and to
Encourage discretion and sensitivity by hospitals with respect to the circumstances, views, and beliefs of such families.
The Act also outlined the responsibilities of OPOs, and required OPOs and hospitals performing transplants to comply with the membership standards and policies of the OPTN. (OPTN Glossary May 2021)