North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

In a mass casualty situation, how are organ donor patients prioritized?

1. They are given the highest priority

2. They are given no priority

3. They are lower priority

4. They can be ignored completely

The correct answer is: They are lower priority

In a mass casualty situation, the prioritization of patients, including organ donor candidates, is based primarily on their immediate medical needs and the likelihood of survival. Organ donor patients are typically considered lower priority because the focus in such emergencies is on preserving life among those who can be saved. The triage system in mass casualty events often categorizes patients based on the severity of their injuries and their chances of recovery with timely medical intervention. While organ donation is critically important, organ donor patients who are not in immediate need of resuscitation or life-saving measures might be deprioritized compared to those who require urgent care to survive. Therefore, in these scenarios, the need to save lives first takes precedence over the potential for organ donation, which aligns with standard emergency response protocols. This is why organ donor patients are considered lower priority during mass casualty incidents.