Preferred Terminology

Language has a critical role in dispelling misconceptions and fears about organ and tissue donation. Please consider how a donor family and the general public may perceive insensitive terminology. The following terminology was approved by the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) Donor Family Council.

Appropriate Term	Inappropriate Term
"recover" organs	"harvest" organs
"recovery" of organs	"harvesting" of organs
"donation" of organs	"harvesting" of organs
"donation" of organs	"harvesting" of organs
"recover" organs	"procure" organs
"recovery" of organs	"procuring" organs
"deceased" donation	"cadaveric" donation
"deceased" donation	"cadaver" donation
"deceased" donor	"cadaver" donor
"mechanical" support	"life" support
"ventilator" support	"life" support
"Organ Donation after Cardiac Death"	"non-heart beating donation"
"deteriorating to brain death"	"progressing to brain death"
"determine brain death"	"declare brain death"
"consent given"	"obtained consent"
"consent given"	"got consent"
"facilitated a donation"	"did a donor"
"donated organs and tissues"	"donated body parts"
"donated organs"	"organ yield"
"Donation after Cardiac Death"	"Non-Heart Beating Donation"
"Recovering a donor"	"Doing a donor"

Preferred Terminology

Appropriate Term

Inappropriate Term