Register: https://umn.zoom.us/webinar/register/9517761873106/WN_QxvbSUK0RcqTNgLAiLwY1Q
Jun 2, 2026 12:00 PM CDT
Speaker: Joel Wu, JD, MPH, MA, HEC-C, Clinical Ethics Assistant Professor, Center of Bioethics, University of Minnesota.
There has been significant concern surrounding the procedures and conditions for donation after circulatory death (DCD). As organ procurement organizations face increased pressure, there have been conflicts and concerns over the expectations for how patients who have designated themselves as donors are treated prior to death, and at the time of the withdrawal of life sustaining treatment. This session will describe the effects and limitations of “first person authorizations” (FPAs) for donation, and how unresolved questions about the scope of FPA can lead to conflict over how and when life sustaining treatment is withdrawn, conflict over treatments for living patients designed to improve organ procurement but not the patient’s medical interests, and confusion about the kinds of information that should be disclosed to patients or their loved ones prior to organ procurement.
Learning Objectives: After this webinar, attendees will be able to:
1. Describe ethical considerations concerning DCD, First Person Authorization and the opt in process, and ethical disclosures about the procurement process.
2. Analyze the ethical challenges associated with implementing first person authorization in the current landscape.
3. Describe how the application of certain ethical commitments inform boundaries for the ethical practice of donation after circulatory death.
This is part of our quarterly clinical ethics webinar series, “Unpacking Bedside Bioethics.”
Upon request, Zoom attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance to apply for Continuing Education Units for their respective professions. We are not able to offer CEUs directly to attendees. Please note, you must attend a minimum of 75% of the live webinar to receive a certificate and certificates will only be issued for up to one week after the event. Certificates of Attendance will not be given for watching the recording – only for those attending the zoom session.
Health professions students are eligible for IPE credit. IPE credit is available only to webinar attendees who are present for 75% or more of the talk, participate in a short IPE breakout session immediately following the talk, and complete a written reflection form following that breakout session.
Event start time: 12:00 pm
Event end time: 01:00 pm