A Plug for Organ Donation

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 18 people will die each day waiting for an organ. The gap between need and organ availability is well-documented. But I wanted to know more about the organ procurement process and the factors that influenced a family's decision to donate.

I had the opportunity to work with Eileen Burker, PhD, CRC (the rehabilitation counselor on the UNC Heart and Lung Transplant Unit) on this paper about organ donation and the organ procurement process (click HERE for my complete findings).

There are several legitimate questions surrounding the process. For example, will donating a family member’s organs cause him or her pain? How much does it cost to donate? Will the patient be disfigured and how will donation impact funeral arrangements? Do physicians stop trying to keep the patient alive once they discover he or she is an organ donor? Is the family member responsible for the patient’s death if they consent to donation? These are but a few of the concerns, ambiguities, and questions experienced by family members of donor-eligible patients. Considering the misconceptions, lack of reliable information, and state of crisis surrounding the organ donation decision, it is little wonder that families often refuse to consent to donation.

In a nutshell, I discovered several internal and external factors that influence a family’s decision to donate: Research on a family’s decision about organ donation paints a picture of a highly complex, emotionally-charged conundrum for healthcare professionals and grieving families. The families of the recently deceased carry a diverse and varied level of attitudes and values related to organ donation that can be a major factor in predicting their decisions. In addition to these familial factors, there are several situational factors surrounding the donation request, such as the timing and location of the request as well as who is involved, that can also impact a family’s decision about donation. More research is needed to determine to what extent families’ pre-set values about donation can be changed, and whether increased sensitivity, improved timing, and more careful assessment of the family’s position in the grieving process can lead to an increase in consent rates. One thing is certain: It is essential to promote organ donation and prepare patients, families, and healthcare providers alike with the tools to face this weighty task.

Interested in becoming a donor? Visit http://www.organdonor.gov/Default.asp to register today.