Thoughts about Organ Donation
Organ donation is a reality I have to face on a regular basis. Every death that occurs in the ER must be reported to our regional organ donation center. As a nurse, this becomes yet another task I need to accomplish. As much as I understand the value of donation, I cringe when I have to make that call. I have just been a part of resuscitation, been present when the family is given the news, and now I have to be quizzed on the potential viability of the deceased person’s organs?
I believe in organ donation. As a matter of fact, I have taken care of many patients that have benefited from it. But when my soul is aching for the family left behind and I have to answer countless questions of a stranger on the other end of a phone line, I find myself fighting the urge to perceive this organization as a bunch of vultures.
This puts me in a very awkward position. I know that the family will be approached by specially trained staff, but my instinct is to protect them, warn them that this is coming. But, alas, I can not. I know that organ procurement specialists see this very differently. For that, I am thankful. Organ donation saves lives. I, myself, want to be an organ donor and can only hope that my family would respect that, should something happen to me.
So, in the end, I do make that phone call and leave the procurement to someone else. Maybe that’s what frustrates me. Maybe I want to be the one to offer an everlasting comfort to the family. But when I really think about it, I don’t believe I could do that for very long. End of life decisions are too hard for me. I realized that when I watched one of the final episodes of
ER, where Carol Hathaway was in charge of organ donation. She had an admirable way of supporting the family and not appearing like a vulture. I guess I can only hope that is what happens in real life. After all, organs are donated every day and families rarely regret their choice.
I know that the battle will continue to rage within me. I can only try to see it from a positive point of view. One more thing for me to do may mean one more life saved. It’s the least I can do, in light of all the suffering I see, and may have effects I will never know about.