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Journals / Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 23 Sayı: 3

How Do Families View Organ Donation in Brain Death Cases Following Forensic Incidents? A Ten-Year Case Series

Adli Vaka Sonrası Beyin Ölümü Vakalarında Ailenin Organ Bağışına Bakışı Nasıl? On Yıllık Vaka Serisi

Gulen Kurt Bulut(Samsun Organ ve Doku Nakli Bölge Koordinasyon Merkezi)0009-0008-1702-2659
Demet Yavuz(Samsun Şehir Hastanesi)0000-0002-4082-6320
Enis Akca(Samsun Şehir Hastanesi)0009-0001-1969-6912
Şefika Türkan Kudsioğlu(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL DR. SİYAMİ ERSEK GÖĞÜS KALP VE DAMAR CERRAHİSİ SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ)0000-0003-4109-3170
Nihal Aydemir(Samsun Şehir Hastanesi)0000-0003-2430-8280
Mehmet Derya Demirag(Samsun Şehir Hastanesi)0000-0001-5667-1805
Pages
469–475
Publication Date
2026-09-21
DOI
—
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The overall family consent rate for organ donation was 23.9% (n=440).

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Background: High family refusal rates for deceased organ donation remain a critical global health challenge, exacerbating the disparity between organ supply and demand.
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Key Findings & Data:This study aimed to evaluate the impact of forensic procedures on donation decisions by comparing family consent rates between forensic and non-forensic brain death cases.
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Conclusion & Impact:The overall family consent rate for organ donation was 23.9% (n=440).
🔬Design:Lab & Field Experiment
📍Scope:2015 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Organ bağışı · Beyin ölümü · Adli vaka

Abstract

Background: High family refusal rates for deceased organ donation remain a critical global health challenge, exacerbating the disparity between organ supply and demand. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of forensic procedures on donation decisions by comparing family consent rates between forensic and non-forensic brain death cases. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 1,840 patients diagnosed with brain death at the Samsun Organ and Tissue Transplantation Regional Coordination Center between January 1, 2015, and January 1, 2025. Results: The median age of the cohort was 57 years (range: 0–98), with a male predominance (56.3%, n=1,036). The majority of brain deaths occurred in public hospitals (93.9%, n=1,728). Forensic cases accounted for 21.7% (n=400) of the total cohort. The overall family consent rate for organ donation was 23.9% (n=440). Notably, the consent rate among families of forensic cases was significantly higher [45% (n=180)] compared to non-forensic cases [18.1% (n=260)] (p<0.001). Conclusions: Approximately one-fifth of brain death cases identified over the past decade were forensic in nature. Contrary to common assumptions, forensic status does not deter organ donation; rather, it significantly and positively influences family consent rates. Forensic cases represent a crucial potential source for expanding the deceased organ donor pool.

Özet

Amaç: Kadavra kaynaklı organ nakillerindeki yetersizlik ve yüksek ret oranları, organ arzı ile talebi arasındaki makası genişleterek küresel çapta kritik bir sağlık sorunu olmaya devam etmektedir. Bu çalışma, adli süreçlerin bağış kararlarına etkisini değerlendirmek amacıyla, adli ve adli olmayan beyin ölümü olgularında ailelerin organ bağışı onay oranlarını karşılaştırmayı hedeflemektedir. Materyal ve metod: Çalışma kapsamında, 1 Ocak 2015 ile 1 Ocak 2025 tarihleri arasında Samsun Organ ve Doku Nakli Bölge Koordinasyon Merkezi'nde beyin ölümü tanısı alan 1840 olguya ait veriler retrospektif olarak analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular: Olguların ortanca yaşı 57 (0-98) olup, %56,3'ü (n=1036) erkektir. Beyin ölümlerinin %93,9'u (n=1728) kamu hastanelerinde gerçekleşmiştir. Tüm kohortun %21,7'sini (n=400) adli olgular oluştururken, genel organ bağışı aile onay oranı %23,9 (n=440) olarak saptanmıştır. Adli olgularda ailelerin organ bağışına onay verme oranı (%45, n=180), adli olmayan olgulara (%18,1, n=260) kıyasla istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzeyde yüksek bulunmuştur (p<0,001). Sonuç: Son on yılda tespit edilen beyin ölümü olgularının yaklaşık beşte biri adli nitelik taşımaktadır. Sanılanın aksine, adli olgu statüsü ailelerin organ bağışı kararlarını olumsuz etkilememekte; bilakis kadavra donör havuzuna katılım oranını belirgin şekilde artırmaktadır. Adli olgular, kadavradan organ verici havuzunun genişletilmesi açısından önemli bir potansiyel kaynak oluşturmaktadır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Bulut, G. K., Yavuz, D., Akca, E., Kudsioğlu, Ş. T., Aydemir, N., Demirag, M. D. (2026). How Do Families View Organ Donation in Brain Death Cases Following Forensic Incidents? A Ten-Year Case Series. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 23 Sayı: 3, 469–475. https://ajindex.com/articles/1080788

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