CPTC Exam Review: Organ Donation Legislation and Policies
What legislation was passed to improve the system for organ and tissue allocation after
successful heart and kidney transplants? - correct answer The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
(UAGA), The National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA), The End Stage Renal Disease Act, The
Omnibus Reconciliation Act.
What does first person authorization mean in the context of organ donation? - correct answer
The donor legally authorized donation upon declaration of his or her death.
Which legislation supports the OPOs legal right to inform donor families instead of asking for
authorization to donate? - correct answer The Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA).
What are some key features of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA)? - correct answer
Created a modern donor registry, requires that declaring physicians are not involved in
transplantation, protects healthcare professionals from liabilities associated with donation,
defines legal next-of-kin who can provide authorization to donate.
Which agency's resolution supported the UAGA allowing OPOs to uphold first-person
authorization despite family disagreements? - correct answer The American Academy of
Neurology (AAN).
What legislation defines death as irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions
or all functions of the entire brain? - correct answer The Uniform Determination of Death Act
(UDDA).
Who creates hospital and OPO brain death policies following guidelines? - correct answer The
American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), The American Medical Association (AMA),
The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP).
Which legislation provides reimbursement for organ transplantation and costs associated with
donation? - correct answer The End Stage Renal Disease Act (ERDA).
Who pays the OPO directly for costs associated with transplantation, excluding brain death
testing? - correct answer The transplant center recovering and accepting an organ.
What legislation requires hospitals participating with Medicare or Medicaid to refer patients to
the OPO? - correct answer The Omnibus Reconciliation Act.
Which legislation provides a medically sound base for determining death? - correct answer The
Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA).
Who are key contacts within hospitals advocating for organ donation? - correct answer Donor
Champions.
, What are some referral/clinical triggers for organ donation? - correct answer Family decision to
withdraw care, absence of 2 or more brainstem reflexes, GCS 5T or less, neurological injury or
insult.
What was the first non-steroidal immunosuppressive drug that promoted successful heart
transplants? - correct answer Cyclosporine.
What legislation provided federal grants to OPOs to help them establish in every state? -
correct answer National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA), The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1986,
The End Stage Renal Disease Act (ESRDA), The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA)
What did the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) call for? - correct answer A national
network to coordinate the allocation of organs and collect clinical data about donors,
candidates, and recipients.
What is the role of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)? - correct answer To
coordinate the allocation of organs, collect clinical data about donors, candidates, and
recipients, manage disagreements between OPOs and transplant centers, and outlaw the sale
of organs.
What federal contract was awarded to UNOS for allocation policy and organ placement? -
correct answer The Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN).
What was the purpose of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1986? - correct answer To ensure
no more than one OPO operates per service area, provide families with information about
organ donation, ensure OPOs and hospitals comply with OPTN policies, and require hospitals to
have policies for organ donation.
Which organization created a Donor's Bill of Rights in 1994? - correct answer Association of
Organ Procurement Organizations.
What federal regulation requires hospitals to notify the OPO of imminent death? - correct
answer CMS Conditions of Participation for hospitals.
What is the first step when evaluating hospital performance or donor issues? - correct answer
Speak to the healthcare team involved.
What do Achieving Donor Management Goals (DMGs) promote? - correct answer More organs
transplanted per donor and improved hospital/OPO relationships.
What information should be gathered on a new referral? - correct answer Brief hospital course,
neurological assessment including GCS, past medical history, and current labs.
What are some OPTN Exclusionary Criteria? - correct answer Multisystem organ failure with
overwhelming sepsis, history of melanoma, HIV infection, gangrenous bowel.
What legislation was passed to improve the system for organ and tissue allocation after
successful heart and kidney transplants? - correct answer The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
(UAGA), The National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA), The End Stage Renal Disease Act, The
Omnibus Reconciliation Act.
What does first person authorization mean in the context of organ donation? - correct answer
The donor legally authorized donation upon declaration of his or her death.
Which legislation supports the OPOs legal right to inform donor families instead of asking for
authorization to donate? - correct answer The Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA).
What are some key features of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA)? - correct answer
Created a modern donor registry, requires that declaring physicians are not involved in
transplantation, protects healthcare professionals from liabilities associated with donation,
defines legal next-of-kin who can provide authorization to donate.
Which agency's resolution supported the UAGA allowing OPOs to uphold first-person
authorization despite family disagreements? - correct answer The American Academy of
Neurology (AAN).
What legislation defines death as irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions
or all functions of the entire brain? - correct answer The Uniform Determination of Death Act
(UDDA).
Who creates hospital and OPO brain death policies following guidelines? - correct answer The
American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), The American Medical Association (AMA),
The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP).
Which legislation provides reimbursement for organ transplantation and costs associated with
donation? - correct answer The End Stage Renal Disease Act (ERDA).
Who pays the OPO directly for costs associated with transplantation, excluding brain death
testing? - correct answer The transplant center recovering and accepting an organ.
What legislation requires hospitals participating with Medicare or Medicaid to refer patients to
the OPO? - correct answer The Omnibus Reconciliation Act.
Which legislation provides a medically sound base for determining death? - correct answer The
Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA).
Who are key contacts within hospitals advocating for organ donation? - correct answer Donor
Champions.
, What are some referral/clinical triggers for organ donation? - correct answer Family decision to
withdraw care, absence of 2 or more brainstem reflexes, GCS 5T or less, neurological injury or
insult.
What was the first non-steroidal immunosuppressive drug that promoted successful heart
transplants? - correct answer Cyclosporine.
What legislation provided federal grants to OPOs to help them establish in every state? -
correct answer National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA), The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1986,
The End Stage Renal Disease Act (ESRDA), The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA)
What did the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) call for? - correct answer A national
network to coordinate the allocation of organs and collect clinical data about donors,
candidates, and recipients.
What is the role of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)? - correct answer To
coordinate the allocation of organs, collect clinical data about donors, candidates, and
recipients, manage disagreements between OPOs and transplant centers, and outlaw the sale
of organs.
What federal contract was awarded to UNOS for allocation policy and organ placement? -
correct answer The Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN).
What was the purpose of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1986? - correct answer To ensure
no more than one OPO operates per service area, provide families with information about
organ donation, ensure OPOs and hospitals comply with OPTN policies, and require hospitals to
have policies for organ donation.
Which organization created a Donor's Bill of Rights in 1994? - correct answer Association of
Organ Procurement Organizations.
What federal regulation requires hospitals to notify the OPO of imminent death? - correct
answer CMS Conditions of Participation for hospitals.
What is the first step when evaluating hospital performance or donor issues? - correct answer
Speak to the healthcare team involved.
What do Achieving Donor Management Goals (DMGs) promote? - correct answer More organs
transplanted per donor and improved hospital/OPO relationships.
What information should be gathered on a new referral? - correct answer Brief hospital course,
neurological assessment including GCS, past medical history, and current labs.
What are some OPTN Exclusionary Criteria? - correct answer Multisystem organ failure with
overwhelming sepsis, history of melanoma, HIV infection, gangrenous bowel.
