Organ donation: a study of the donor family perspective

Abstract

This descriptive study examined donor families' overall feelings about their organ donation experience. The study was conducted at a large university hospital in conjunction with the local independent agency responsible for organ procurement. The sample consisted of 41 families who had donated organs of a loved one who had died. A mailed questionnaire was used to elicit responses related to the families' feelings about the experience. Eighty-three percent of the donor families returned completed questionnaires. It was concluded that most donor families have positive feelings about organ donation because of their desire to help someone else and make something good come from their loss.