First person consent: OPOs across the country are adapting to the change.

Visit the UNOS Web site at www.unos.org By Karen Sokohl Whether you call it “first person consent” or “donor designation,” it means the same thing—the donor’s decision is paramount and should be respected at all costs. Exploring new ways to combat the ever-increasing waiting list, more states are legislating some form of donor designation. Although the legislation is a hot topic these days, organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in Pennsylvania have dealt with the issue since passage of its comprehensive organ donation legislation in 1994. Pennsylvania Act 102 has three major components, each of which has had a dramatic effect on donation rates in that state: