Can the physician who certifies the death of a donor participate in the removal procedure?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only with the family's permission
• D. Only with written authorization from the hospital administrator

Answer: (B)

Separating the act of determining death from the act of recovering organs is essential for objectivity and public trust. The physician who certifies that death has occurred should not participate in the organ removal procedure. Involvement by the certifying physician could create or be perceived as a conflict of interest and might cast doubt on whether death was determined independently. The actual removal is performed by trained organ procurement teams or transplant surgeons following strict protocols to safeguard the donor and maximize organ viability. Permissions from family or hospital administrators do not override this separation.