[A deceased child as organ donor: a major sacrifice asked of the parents].

A shortage of organs is the key factor limiting transplantation in children. In the Netherlands, the Dutch Organ Donation Act allows voluntary registration. Citizens aged 12 years and older may register as organ donors of their own free will. This results in a 40 percent registration of all Dutch citizens, and may partly explain the overall shortage, which also affects parents and children with end-stage organ failure. Alternatives such as living-related donor programs have been established as well as recruitment of child donors. A recent study evaluates the procurement of organs and tissues in pediatric intensive care units. This commentary questions this practice in light of voluntary registration and the resulting shortage of donor organs in general.