Guide to Sensitive Language

 

Appropriate Term   Inappropriate Term
     
“recover” organs   “harvest” organs
“recovery” 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
“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”
     
“tissue preparation facility”   “tissue processor”
“prepared tissue”   “processed tissue”