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Volume: 6 Issue: 4 November 2008 - Supplement - 1

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CARE OF PEDIATRIC DONOR'S FAMILY

Care of pediatric donor’s family In France, when a brain death diagnostic is made in a reanimation unit the doctor notifies the coordinator nurse of a potential donor. This one, according to the bioethics law, has to endeavor to meet the donor’s relatives to collect from them his position on organ donation. The meeting with the family of a pediatric donor is a difficult and dreaded event. What difference with an interview with the family of an adult? Essentially three points: context (child’s death is particularly an inacceptable event, the coordinator can have a child of the same age), rise of emotions (generated by the distress of the parents) and absence of potential donor’s opinion (the coordinator can not rest on the law). Consequently the interview is made more difficult and requires a great psychological energy. How can a coordinator lead the discussion? There is no recipe, just some keys. For example it is important to let one’s place too a colleague if it is too difficult. It is interesting to know that, actually, the meeting takes place in an atmosphere favorable to discussion. The coordinator does not stay alone with the family because the reanimator generally attends the discussion. Finally the way to begin the interview is the same as for an adult: it is important too make sure that brain death is well understood and it is essential to explain that the process can be stopped if no compatible patient is found. After the interview there is the time of procurement. It is difficult for all the participants too. A debriefing with the medical and paramedical staff and also with the other members of the coordination team is particularly necessary. To be able to continue the mission of procurement but also because life must go on…



Volume : 6
Issue : 4
Pages : 31


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Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon France.