When Donor Families and Organ Recipients Meet

Abstract

Journal of Transplant Coordination, Vol. 9, Number 2, June 1999 and donor families. This growth in interest is generated by the public promotion of organ donation, such as the campaign sponsored by the National Advertisement Council. Nationally televised meetings between donor families and recipients also play a part in promoting interest in organ donation. As the public becomes more educated about organ donation and the issue of recipient and donor family relationships, the transplant community will likely experience even more requests for such meetings. Policies regarding these meetings should be developed based on an understanding of the grieving process and how communication between these 2 groups impedes or facilitates grieving for the donor families.