Turning Loss Into Legacy: Opportunities for Tissue and Eye Donation in Community Hospice/Palliative Care.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2024
Publication Title
Journal of Hospice& Palliative Nursing
Abstract
Organ, tissue, and eye donations provide opportunities to leave a legacy by saving and/or enhancing the quality of life of others. There has been little published related to tissue or eye donation in hospice/palliative care and few initiatives to facilitate donation among hospice patients/families. Donation myths, gaps in knowledge, and, most significantly, lack of donation referral processes result in missed opportunities for patient/families to consider donation. One donor has the potential to impact 75 lives or more through tissue donation and 2 lives through eye donation. Hospice/palliative care providers can play key roles related to education, advocacy, and collaboration. The support of hospice/palliative care organizations and the local Organ Procurement Organization/Tissue and Eye Recovery Agency are essential for facilitating donation opportunities. This article summarizes current literature, examines legislation and regulations related to donation, presents a case that illustrates an opportunity for hospice community based donation, and shares practices that support donation in hospice/palliative care organizations together with the local Organ Procurement Organization/Tissue and Eye Recovery Agency. This article will hopefully provide the impetus for further study and the development of practices to optimize donation in hospice/palliative care, thus providing more patients and families the opportunity to turn loss into legacy.
Volume
26
Issue
3
First Page
149
Last Page
157
Recommended Citation
Westphal CG, Williams R, Sommer S. Turning loss into legacy: opportunities for tissue and eye donation in community hospice/palliative care. J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2024 Jun 1;26(3):149-157. doi: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000001015. PMID: 38206372.
DOI
10.1097/NJH.0000000000001015
ISSN
1539-0705
PubMed ID
38206372