Experience of bereaved relatives who granted or refused permission for organ donation

• Published in: Family practice Vol. 9; no. 2; p. 141
• Main Authors: Tymstra, T, Heyink, J W, Pruim, J, Slooff, M J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-06-1992
• Subjects: Attitude to Health; Bereavement; Cause of Death; Decision Making; Family - psychology; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Netherlands; Professional-Family Relations; Tissue and Organ Procurement - methods; Tissue Donors; Netherlands; Empirical Approach; Professional Patient Relationship; Health Care and Public Health
• ISSN: 0263-2136
• DOI: 10.1093/fampra/9.2.141

A group of individuals who had granted or refused permission to have organs removed from a decreased relative for transplantation were interviewed. Organ donation was found to be a very delicate subject: the request for organ donation often comes unexpectedly and most relatives are not aware of the wishes of the decreased (donor codicil), which complicates the decision process. Some of the relatives who refused regretted their decision later. Remorse was also encountered in the group who gave their permission, although positive feelings were more common. The position of the member of staff who asks for permission is complicated. Suggestions are presented to improve the procedure.