Desirable situation of In-house coordinators in charge of donor’s family −for grief care and choice with no regrets−

Abstract

In consideration of the establishment of a regional organ donation system respecting the patient’s intent, the Donor Action Program (DAP) was set up in our hospital in October 2016. In DAP, in-house coordinators (IHCs) in charge of the donor’s family were assigned to do a proposal for organ donation and grief care. Compared with the results for the past five years, potential donor referral was increased by 11.2 times, and a proposal for organ donation by 9.6 times. Moreover, the rate of approval for organ donation was 60%, when organ donation was proposed by IHCs, while it was 16.7% by the physician. In view of organ donation, an approval for organ donation is no more than one of the options at the patient’s final moments. It is essential for organ donation to arrange IHCs in charge of the donor’s family to support understanding of medical care and choice with no regrets for the donor’s family as a third party who snuggles up to them.