Renal grafts from non-heart beating donors.

During 1990 in Britain 60.7 patients per million of the population were accepted for renal transplantation but fewer than 35 patients per million received a renal transplant.1 More transplants would be available if non-heart beating donors were used.*RF 2-4* We report a retrospective study of transplantation of renal grafts from non-heart beating donors. From 1 September 1988 to 30 April 1991, 27 patients received renal transplants from non-heart beating donors and 70 from heart beating donors. Nine of the non-heart beating donors (who donated 18 grafts) had been hospice patients with primary cerebral tumours. The hospice's counsellors had sought consent both from the patients and from their relatives. During the terminal phase of their illness the patients received only the treatment indicated by their medical condition. After the patient's death the …