Abstract
The coroner release rates for the service of a particular organ procurement organization were evaluated through a retrospective analysis, which included the year before (1991), the year during (1992), and the year after (1993) the adoption of a formal protocol for coroner's cases. In 1991, 22 of 55 (40%) coroner cases were denied for donation by the coroner. In 1992 and 1993, 12 of 55 (22%) and 9 of 56 (16%) coroner cases, respectively, were denied for donation. More significantly, in 1991, 4 of 6 (67%) cases of homicidal gunshot wound to the head were denied for donation by the coroner, whereas only 1 of 13 (8%) such cases were denied in 1993. Also in 1991 all closed head injuries (two) from falls were denied for donation by the coroner, whereas in 1993 1 of 8 (12%) closed head injuries was denied for donation. Finally, all 4 of 4 nonaccidental traumas (ie, child abuse) were denied in 1991, but 1 of 2 were released in both 1992 and 1993. Further education and awareness efforts could reduce the rates of coroner denial even more significantly.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.