The time before hospital admission for the people we interviewed was difficult and traumatic, particularly because some events were sudden, unexpected and dangerous. Most people had not been with their relative when the first event occurred and had not realised then how serious the situation was. This added to their shock and distress.
Usually, organs that are suitable for donation come from people who have died suddenly and unexpectedly. Generally, this is after they have had a brain haemorrhage, a stroke or a major accident like a car crash. All of the donor families interviewed consented to organ donation on the death of their loved one. This was after the patient had spent some time on a ventilator (life support machine) in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU). During this time, everything possible was done to save the life of their loved one.
A brain haemorrhage is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition where blood leaks out of blood vessels over the surface of the brain. Some of the donor families said their loved one had died of a severe brain haemorrhage, although they had not known what was wrong when they called for an ambulance. Their relative had collapsed completely out of the blue and, at this stage, they had no idea it would be life-threatening.
Read donor family stories
{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
No comments:
Post a Comment