Interaction of organ donor families and recipients

Abstract

An exploratory descriptive study of donor families and recipients of cadaveric organs was done to determine their feelings about direct contact with each other. Direct contact was desired by 70% of donor families and 75% of recipients. Donor families wanted to see firsthand the benefit of the transplant to another person. Recipients primarily wanted to express gratitude. Both groups think they have a right to meet. Although both think these interactions should be professionally regulated and facilitated, they do not think the transplant center or the organ procurement organization is responsible for the outcome of a meeting. Donor families and recipients think the process should be gradual with prior correspondence. On the basis of our findings, we have developed a list of suggested guidelines to use when facilitating an interaction.

The transplant team’s role with regard to establishing contact between an organ recipient and the family of a cadaver organ donor

“…1). This finding endorses the published articles that report the satisfaction of both donor families and recipients from being in contact with the other (Lewino et al. 1996, Ono et al.…”

“…Israelis typically feel a deep sense of collective belonging and social solidarity. Whereas institutional policy on bringing the parties into contact may be uncertain and changeable, knowing that this underlying desire for solidarity is so pervasive encourages professional staff to broach the possibility of contact by prompting one side or the other to take a first step (Lewino et al. 1996, Politoski et al.…”

“…To sum up, it is the coordinator’s role to provide even‐handed support to both sides, now taking care not to pressure them into establishing contact, now encouraging it (Lewino et al. 1996).…”

Pure Altruistic Gift and the Ethics of Transplant Medicine

“…Some recipients and donor family members believe that an anonymous thank-you letter to the donor family is a sufficient form of contact (Maloney 1998;Kaba et al 2005), whereas others want (also) a meeting in person (Albert 1998;Maloney 1998;Ono et al 2008;Annema et al 2014). Organ recipients who prefer contact with donor family want to show respect for the donor or their family (Annema et al 2014) or gratitude (Fox and Swazey 1992, 41;Lewino et al 1996;Albert 1998;Ono et al 2008). Deceased-donor family members may desire to contact the recipient in order to witness the benefits of the transplant (Lewino et al 1996;Albert 1998;Ono et al 2008), have some form of relation to the deceased relative through the recipient (Fox and Swazey 1992, 44), or give meaning to the death of their loved one and complete the grieving process (Albert 1998).…”

“…Substitute forms of interaction with donors are also becoming more frequent and elaborate (Sharp 2007, 23-30). Such interactions are not without psychological and ethical risks, and so attempts to get in touch with the donor or the donor family must be handled with caution (Lewino et al 1996;Politoski, Coolican, and Casey 1996;Albert 1998;Clayville 1999;Shaw 2012;Azuri, Tabak, and Kreitler 2013). It is advisable therefore that, if allowed, the contact be, among others, extended in time or gradual, facilitated by the organ procurement agency, and well-informed with respect to the psychological and ethical risks and potential benefits of such interactions to the parties involved (Lewino et al 1996).…”