Paeds Cases · pain-palliative-and-end-of-life-care
Hold the goals-of-care conversation for organ and tissue donation in children — OSCE
OSCE communication station for organ and tissue donation in children: open the conversation, explore understanding, make a clear recommendation, address fear of abandonment, and agree a documented plan.
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Study tools
Target exams
MRCPCH ClinicalRACP DCERCPSC Pediatrics
Prompt
A five-year-old sustains catastrophic traumatic brain injury. After optimisation, clinical examination suggests neurological death. The parents ask whether their child can help other children.
Candidate brief
You have eight minutes to open a goals-of-care conversation with the family in this scenario. Explore their understanding, hopes and worries; explain the clinical recommendation in plain language; address fear of abandonment; and agree next steps including documentation and support. [1][2]
References4ShowHide
- [1]Moynihan KM et al. Epidemiology of childhood death in Australian and New Zealand intensive care units. Intensive Care Med, 2019.PMID 31270578
- [2]Dopson S et al. Exploring nurses' knowledge, attitudes and feelings towards organ and tissue donation after circulatory death within the paediatric intensive care setting in the United Kingdom: A qualitative content analysis study. Intensive Crit Care Nurs, 2019.PMID 31350064
- [3]Lee LA et al. Organ Donation in Canadian PICUs: A Cross-Sectional Survey, 2021-2022. Pediatr Crit Care Med, 2024.PMID 37966310
- [4]Kramer AH et al. Missed Organ Donation Opportunities in Patients With Devastating Brain Injury: A Prospective Population-Based Cohort Study. Crit Care Med, 2026.PMID 41269058