TheatrePracticeStandardsGeneric1

Donor Transplant Coordinators
• Are responsible for the care of a patient who has died, speaking to the family and
organising the organ donation procedure.
• The Theatre Manager will retain copies of signatures of all healthcare professionals
who make entries on healthcare records, together with the professional's registration
number (NMC or HPC). The register of signatures will be reviewed and updated
annually.
In the Event of an Unexpected Death Occurring in Theatre
• If an unexpected death occurs within the perioperative environment the person in
charge must ensure that the following personnel are informed immediately, in order to
comply with the requirements:
o
o
o
Theatre Manager
Ward and/or intensive care staff
It is the responsibility of the medical staff to inform their senior colleagues
• The surgeon must inform the Coroner’s Office. A medical certificate will not be issued.
• It is the surgeon’s decision to decide whether to continue with the operating session or
to cancel the remainder of the operating for that session.
• Sudden unexpected death will result in a coroner’s post mortem as a legal requirement.
• Post mortem examination can provide information about the illness or other cause of
death. Without a post mortem, the cause of death can be wrong in up to 30% of cases
• By law a coroner can order a post mortem examination to be done. There are three
main reasons why a death is referred to the coroner:
o
o
o
Death has been sudden and unexpected.
A person has been ill but the doctor confirming the death is not certain why it
happened at that particular time.
A death has been the result of an accident or unusual circumstances (including
deaths following a medical procedure such as surgery).
• If a member of theatre staff is approached by a relative, or other responsible person,
about post mortem arrangements for adults, the request should be referred directly to a
member of the medical team responsible for the deceased or the Bereavement office,
as appropriate.
Organ Donation
• If the patient had previously agreed/consented to organ donation, immediate advice
must be sought from the coroner, via the consultant in charge, or from the coroner's
office. The coroner must be told and must agree before organs can be removed. In
some cases, organ donation may not be possible for medical reasons.
In The Event of an Unexpected Death Occurring in St Michael’s Hospital Theatres (in
addition to the above guidelines)
• The body will be removed by the coroner and medical certificate issued after post
mortem and inquest.
• The Coroner will arrange for the body to be collected.
• If there is gross contamination by body fluids, the deceased patient should be washed.
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