What is known about the topic?
Patients who die from poisoning are potential organ or tissue donors but may represent an under-referred population.
What did this study ask?
Do Canadian emergency physicians under-refer patients who die from poisoning for organ or tissue donation, and what characteristics influence referral rates?
What did this study find?
In a simulated context, poisoned patients were under-referred as potential organ or tissue donors, and both environmental and clinician characteristics influenced rates.
Why does this study matter to clinicians?
Understanding factors that affect donor referral may decrease the morbidity and mortality for patients waiting for organ or tissue donation.