Experiences and Psychological Course of Family Members in Brain Death Organ Donation Process

For the Development of Nursing Care for Donor Family Members

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the psychological and qualitative experiences of families during the organ donation process for brain-death relatives and to clarify the events that affect long-term acceptance within families. We interviewed three family members. The results revealed that families first needed to recognize that brain death meant their relative was dead. Then, families began to search for meaning in the event and opted for organ donation as a result. If the prospective donor’s values were clear, the families prioritized those values; if the donor’s values were unclear, the decision was made in accordance with the family’s values. Concordance between the values of the wider family and the donor indicated a greater likelihood that the family would have a positive attitude toward the resulting decision. In contrast, when the values of the donor and the family did not agree, the family became conflicted. The family’s values during the organ donation process affected the post-donation psychology.