Korean J Leg Med.  2009 Nov;33(2):143-146.

The Role of Medical Examiners in Organ or Tissue Procurement of the Brain Dead People

• Park S
• Ha H
• Kim JK
• Kang SM

Abstract

In the western countries, forensic pathologists under their rational postmortem investigation system do their appropriate role before or during all process of transplantation. As it is ongoing remarkable development in the transplantation medicine and it is more and more increased the number of would-be transplant patients, organ procurement from the brain dead will expand than ever. Considering the major causes of brain death which are cerebrovascular diseases, traffic accidents, and head injuries, the role of forensic doctors has to be more important in transplantation. Reviewing literatures and reporting our case which was requested for forensic consultation before the organ procurement because this case was related with violence and the cause of death was obscure, we would like to discuss and develop the systematic and organizational approach about the role of forensic pathologists in transplantation medicine in Korea.

Keyword

transplantation medicine; forensic pathologist; brain death; role

MeSH Terms

Accidents, Traffic
Brain
Brain Death
Cause of Death
Coroners and Medical Examiners
Craniocerebral Trauma
Humans
Korea
Tissue and Organ Procurement
Transplants
Violence