
Following a recent New York Times report that questioned the ethics and safety of donation after circulatory death (DCD), this episode clarifies how DCD and donation after brain death (DBD) actually work in U.S. organ procurement. We explain why DCD now accounts for ~43% of deceased donors (≈7,300 in 2024, 13,496 transplants) and how it complements the ~9,700 brain-dead donors who still provide most organs. We explore the surgical, ethical, and logistical safeguards that make procurement safe and trustworthy, the innovations (machine perfusion, NRP) that expand DCD use, and why expert procurement is the critical bridge that preserves organ quality, upholds public trust, and makes every transplant possible.