Donation after circulatory death (DCD), also known as controlled asystole donation, is a new method of donation that is added to the traditional approach of donation after brain death. In Spain, DCD is practiced in adult patients and is in its initial stages when it comes to the paediatric population.1,2 Donation after circulatory death is contemplated in critical patients when the decision to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment (W/WLST) has been made due to the futility of available treatments.2 Both processes (shared decision-making about W/WLST and consideration of DCD) must be conducted objectively, independently and with coordination of the professionals managing the critical child and the transplant team in each hospital.

Since this is a novel strategy, and taking into account the uncertainties and ethical dilemmas that it may generate, we conducted an anonymous non-standardised survey of health professionals working in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Spain. The aim of the survey was to find out the perceptions about and clinical approaches to donation and DCD of health care professionals, especially those involved in the care of critically ill children.

We made the questionnaire available to PICU paediatricians and nurses through the website of the Sociedad Española de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos (Spanish Society of Paediatric Intensive Care, SECIP) and social media (Twitter®), accepting responses submitted in January and February 2020.

We analysed 86 valid responses corresponding to 66 paediatricians (76.7%), 10 nurses and 10 medical residents in paediatrics. They worked in paediatric or mixed units (63.6% with 10 r fewer beds). Most were female (69.7%) and predominantly aged 30–40 years (45.3%) or 40 and 50 years (31.4%). Table 1 presents the main findings of the survey, and Table 2 the degree of agreement with donation under 3 possible circumstances (after brain death, after WLST in a patient admitted to the PICU and after W/WLST in a patient in palliative care).

We found that the typical respondent profile corresponded to a female paediatrician aged 30–50 years employed in a PICU with fewer than 10 beds. Although in general respondents worked in units where very few donations took place, most had participated in the donation process at least once and would like to become donors if they found themselves in that situation in the future. Most reported that their units had protocols for donation and for W/WLST. Although respondents had been involved in the past in the process of informing families, 3 out of 4 were not satisfied with their training on the subject. Nearly all were familiar with the concept of brain death, whereas 1 in 3 did not know the criteria used to define circulatory death. Although all participants agreed that children could become donors after brain death, 9.3% was unsure about or disagreed with contemplating donation after W/WLS. This percentage rose to 18.6% when it came to patients receiving palliative care.

Donation after circulatory death is a challenge in paediatric practice. It is framed in a new health care reality in which paediatric mortality is very low and death frequently occurs in the context of decisions regarding W/WLST made in consultation with the family.3 This new approach is not limited to critically ill patients but may also be considered in patients undergoing palliative care with a short life expectancy and very poor quality of life.4 This may give rise to uncertainty and ethical dilemmas that produce moral anxiety in providers.5

Based on our survey, we conclude that paediatricians in the PICU setting wish to receive training on the subject, including protocols for W/WLST and DCD. For the management of children involved with donation to proceed with the highest scientific, technical and ethical rigour, active collaboration with the transplant coordination team of the corresponding hospital is of the essence. Thus, we believe that it is essential for the Asociación Española de Pediatría (Spanish Association of Paediatrics) and the Organización Nacional de Trasplantes (National Transplant Organization) to get involved in the development of educational activities and to provide support in these processes.