Organ donation enquiries

Organ donation is governed by the Human Transplantation and Anatomy (Jersey) Law 2018. Under the law it is presumed that a person who dies in Jersey consents to donate their organs with certain exceptions. The next of kin of the deceased will non the less be asked by medical staff for their views about taking organs for transplantation. 

If the circumstances of a death are such as will necessitate the holding of an inquest, the Coroner will be asked for their permission before organs are taken for donation. 

The Coroner will treat all such inquiries promptly, balancing the need to avoid prejudicing enquiries into the death with the public interest in enabling organs to be donated wherever possible.

A coroner may be asked for their opinion on organ donation before a person dies when death appears likely though the coroner's opinion will only be advisory at that point. 

A key consideration for the coroner in such cases is whether donation of particular organs may cause problems for a pathologist conducting a post-mortem,  particular if a forensic post-mortem may be required because a crime may have been committed. 

The presumption is that organ donation will be permitted provided that will not impede the coroner’s duty to ascertain the cause of death.