Most people with kidney disease are hesitant to discuss living kidney donation with their family or friends. “Even people surrounded by loving, open and sharing families find it difficult to raise this subject,” says Debra Morgan, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., Administrative Director of the Transplant Department at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. Yet as Ms. Morgan points out, discussions about living organ donation are simply part of the comprehensive transplant education process.
The Saint Barnabas Health Care System Renal and Pancreas Transplant Centers assume the responsibility of introducing the topic to families through a complete educational program. Transplant candidates are encouraged to bring immediate and extended family members to their initial meeting at the Center. Here the advantages of living kidney donation are presented as another treatment option for people with renal disease. “Fully informed about this option, individuals can take the information, think about it as long as they need and react any way they feel comfortable,” says Ms. Morgan.The transplant team then helps the family come to a decision that is right for them.
If transplant candidates want to open the subject of living donation, but their family members are unable to attend the group meeting, the transplant team will schedule a family meeting to discuss their loved one’s transplant options.Written materials are also provided and contain detailed information about living organ donation.
All of the living organ transplants performed at the Renal and Pancreas Transplant Centers are between two people who share a strong emotional bond of a longstanding nature, whether through marriage, other family relationships or friendship.Experienced social workers are available to discuss any psychosocial issues that may impact organ donation.
In today’s global community, the transplant team can coordinate the preliminary testing at the potential donor’s local medical center to accommodate possible donations from out of state or even out of the country.
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