Physician Registration for Deceased Organ Donation

A shortage of organs for transplant has prompted many countries to encourage citizens to register (“opt in”) to donate their organs and tissues when they die.1 However, less than 40% of the public is registered for organ donation in most countries with a registry.1 One common fear is that physicians will not take all measures to save the life of a registered citizen at a time of illness.2 Showing that many physicians are registered for organ donation themselves could help dispel this myth. Although most physicians in surveys support organ donation,3 whether they are actually registered remains unknown.