7 replies to this topic

[NawlinsGirl]

WILL YOU DONATE YOUR ORGANS ?

YES, I AM REGISTERED

NO, I AM NOT REGISTERED, BUT PLAN TO DO SO

NO, I DONT BELIEVE IN THIS AT ALL

I AM UNDECIDED AT THIS TIME

Edited by NawlinsGirl, 21 December 2005 - 02:18 AM.

[3boyzmom]

Yes, I am registered.

[mattsmom]

I voted undecided, as I'm not against donation in itself. I do not like the tactics and attitude of the organ companies to be honest. Did you know they keep a database of nurses and go to managers if a nurse consistently has patients declining donation?? To me this is a subtle punishment if we don't get them business. So I am not a donor currently. JMHO.

[mattsmom]

I believe people have the right to choose whether they or their loved one will donate tissue or organs. These procurement companies and the entire organ agenda ise becoming progressively more 'entitled' in their attitudes. They have lobbied to enact laws in some areas so that homeless/indigent deceased become theirs. the companies I've dealt with reprimand staff nurses when the deceased and/or their families choose not to donate (which is their right). It happened to me again last night. After an emotional decline and death of a loved one, when i approached the family, they told me Joe had said in the past he did NOT wish to be a donor, and they did not wish to go against his wishes. Shouldn't the issue END there???? But NO..... Instead the organ procurement company continued to pressure me for more info on the patient and family, demanding I discuss with them how I brought the subject up, and huffily suggesting I did something wrong because I didn't get them a body.. This is highly unethical IMHO and even a HIPAA violation I suspect. I offer my patients/families the opportunity to get more info on donation. Its the law; I must. If they say 'no', it ENDS there (or should) I will NOT pressure a grieving family to donate!!!!

As I said earlier, I choose NOT to donate now...and it is due to the bad taste in my mouth left from dealings with these companies over the years. They do NOT help their cause by browbeating staff nurses.

Ok off my soapbox now...LOL!!

[mattsmom]

I would really welcome others' opinions on this. It is not PC to say what I said above...it seems nurses are 'supposed' to be FOR all the organ/tissue grabbing going on today. Am I the only nurse who feels turned off by their tactics??

[NawlinsGirl]

HI MATTSMOM,

IN MY EXPERIENCE WITH WORKING WITH THE LOPA AGENCY, I DONT RECALL THE TACTICTS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.. I WORKED WITH THEM EXTENSIVELY AND FOUND IT TO BE VERY REWARDING. I, PERSONALLY NEVER FELT LIKE THE FAMILIES OF MY PATIENTS WERE BEING HARRASSED OR PRESSURED INTO ANYTHING. THEY WERE ALWAYS APPROACHED IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME IF THERE IS EVER ONE. SO ALL OF MY EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN POSTIVE. BUT, THATS NOT TO SAY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HANDLE THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

NAWLINSGIRL

[mattsmom]

HI MATTSMOM,

IN MY EXPERIENCE WITH WORKING WITH THE LOPA AGENCY, I DONT RECALL THE TACTICTS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.. I WORKED WITH THEM EXTENSIVELY AND FOUND IT TO BE VERY REWARDING. I, PERSONALLY NEVER FELT LIKE THE FAMILIES OF MY PATIENTS WERE BEING HARRASSED OR PRESSURED INTO ANYTHING. THEY WERE ALWAYS APPROACHED IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME IF THERE IS EVER ONE. SO ALL OF MY EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN POSTIVE. BUT, THATS NOT TO SAY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HANDLE THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

NAWLINSGIRL

Hmm. I moved from one state to another and thought my experience with my new organ/tissue agency would be better. But it was just as bad. These are not live donations I refer to; but post mortem tissue, lens, bone, etc. We must call them with every demise...and in both states now, if you tell them the patient was not a donor and the family also does not want to donate, their questions keep coming. I do not understand this!!!?? To me, once the family says 'no', the agency's repeated demands for patient's private info seems to be a HIPAA violation. I am going to bring it up at the next staff meeting. Other nurses on dutry that night report similar experiences with them. Perhaps it is all in the individual company and how aggressive they are. personally I think I will delegate all future calls to the house supervisor...LOL...as I'm running out of patience with their tactics. !!!