What defines presumed consent in organ procurement?

• A. Consent is assumed unless the deceased explicitly refused.
• B. Consent is always given only with family approval.
• C. Consent is assumed unless the deceased expressed a wish not to donate.
• D. Consent is granted only after a court review.

Answer: (C)

Presumed consent means the default is that a person is a donor after death unless they have expressed an objection. The option that states consent is assumed unless the deceased expressed a wish not to donate captures that default-and-exception structure most clearly: you are treated as a donor unless there is a clear record or statement indicating you don’t want to donate.

This differs from requiring family approval, which would place a layer of authorization beyond the default assumption, and from a system that requires court review, which is not how presumed consent is typically described. The nuance between “explicitly refused” and “expressed a wish not to donate” is subtle but the latter more accurately reflects the opt-out principle and the usual practice of honoring individuals’ stated wishes.