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Amy L. Friedman, MD

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 123 words of the full text and any section headings.

In a comprehensive and sensitive manner, Taylor et al¹ have provided an outstanding algorithm for approaching the unexpected intraoperative death of a patient. However, an important opportunity was missed by excluding consideration of organ and tissue donation in either the proactive or reactive phases they described. When surgeons have the privilege of participating in the end of a person's life, we simultaneously represent the interests of thousands of people whose lives depend on the benevolence of others. Failing to embrace this cause and overlooking even one opportunity to encourage the gift of life translate directly into preventable deaths.

AUTHOR INFORMATION
Correspondence: Dr Friedman, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 E Adams St, Syracuse, NY 13104 (friedmaa@upstate.edu).

Financial Disclosure: None reported.

1. Taylor D, Hassan MA, Luterman A, Rodning CB. Unexpected intraoperative patient death: the imperatives of family- and surgeon-centered care. Arch Surg. 2008;143(1):87-92. FREE FULL TEXT

Arch Surg. 2008;143(8):807.

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RELATED ARTICLE

Unexpected Intraoperative Patient Death: The Imperatives of Family- and Surgeon-Centered Care
Dan Taylor, Moustafa A. Hassan, Arnold Luterman, and Charles B. Rodning
Arch Surg. 2008;143(1):87-92.
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Do Not Forget Organ and Tissue Donation—Reply
Dan Taylor and Charles B. Rodning
Arch Surg. 2008;143(8):807-808.
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