Communication with family after loss, in the context of transplantology

Abstract

Background: Cooperation with a patient is a joint venture, based on a division of power and authority. Its character is not hierarchical. It assumes that this power is based on knowledge and experience, which is the opposite of power based on role or position. The good doctor-patient relationship affects a range of factors, including the healing process, the possibility of understanding the causes of a disease and its treatment and in a broader perspective, trust in the health service, which can in turn have a positive influence on public attitudes to organ donation. Because consent is presumed in Poland, there is no family consent requirement for organ donation of a deceased family member. In practice, however, medical professionals usually strive to get consent from family members, and in cases of refusal, they will not harvest. The aim of our study was to answer the following questions: (1) Does the way in which care was provided for the still-alive patient, as well as the relationship between the doctor and the patient's family, influence the family's decision to agree to the harvest of the dead patient's organs? (2) Does previous experience with healthcare institutions and personnel influence their decision to agree to organ donation?

Methods: Research was conducted on a group of 173 people, using a questionnaire comprising 18 questions.

Results: Obtained results show that 34% of people are satisfied with the level of medical care. The majority claim that doctors treat them without due care. Thirty-eight percent believe that doctors are capable of stopping therapy in order to get organs for transplantation.

Conclusions: It is necessary to recognize the correlation between a correct doctor-patient relationship, gaining trust, and how reliable a doctor's opinions are. A patient's conviction that he or she is well treated may lead to regaining the belief in the straightforwardness of the doctor's opinion, and less dissatisfaction with and less criticism of medical care.