Family Members Experiences Related to Organ Donation of their Brain Death Patient

Abstract

Abstract: Organ transplantation from brain dead patients in Sri Lanka has become a critical medical intervention since the availability of organs has fallen behind the requirement. Nonetheless, the difficulty in obtaining the consent by the family members still exists as it was. This study aimed to describe the family members’ experiences related to organ donation of their brain death patients in Neuro - Surgical Intensive Care Unit in National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Ten immediate family members who have provided their consent to proceed with an organ donation of their loved ones were selected purposively. The interviewing was held at the hospital premises. This was conducted as a phenomenological study. Data collection was performed with semistructured interviews using a theme guide from March to June 2019. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Ethical approval was obtained from the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Three themes that emerged from the transcribed interviews were: decision conflict, respecting the donor and acceptance of the unexpected death. Stressful decision making, family involvement and internal dissonance were the sub-themes emerged from decision conflict. Further, religious beliefs, honouring the donors’ wishes, saving recipient life, letting the donor live on and comforting the grief were the sub-themes derived from respecting the donor. Dedication of health care professionals, the ambiguity of brain death and awareness derived from the last theme. The study revealed that the overall attitudes towards organ donation of a brain death patient exist to a slight negative bias among Sri Lankan society. Hence it is recommended to have public educational interventions to educate the society regarding organ donation.