CMAJ Podcasts

Urgent need to improve organ donation experience for donor families

September 12, 2022 Canadian Medical Association Journal
Urgent need to improve organ donation experience for donor families
CMAJ Podcasts
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CMAJ Podcasts
Urgent need to improve organ donation experience for donor families
Sep 12, 2022
Canadian Medical Association Journal

Many families of organ donors describe feeling alone and abandoned at the moment when their loved one is taken to the operating room for donation. Heather Talbot says she and her family were left on their own as her son was wheeled into the OR. The experience left her thinking, “Well, they got what they wanted and they’ve moved on.”


A qualitative study in CMAJ examined the experiences of donor families. They found that many families felt unsupported at critical transition periods. Authors of The experiences of family members of deceased organ donors and suggestions to improve the donation process conducted 271 in-depth interviews with family members of organ donors.


On this episode, Drs Bigham and Omole speak with the study’s lead author Dr. Aimee Sarti. Dr. Sarti is an ICU physician in Ottawa. But first, they speak with Heather Talbot. Ms. Talbot’s son Jonathan became an organ donor after his death in 2009.


Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something you'd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast.

You can find Blair and Mojola on X @BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole

X (in English): @CMAJ
X (en français): @JAMC
Facebook
Instagram: @CMAJ.ca

The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions

Show Notes

Many families of organ donors describe feeling alone and abandoned at the moment when their loved one is taken to the operating room for donation. Heather Talbot says she and her family were left on their own as her son was wheeled into the OR. The experience left her thinking, “Well, they got what they wanted and they’ve moved on.”


A qualitative study in CMAJ examined the experiences of donor families. They found that many families felt unsupported at critical transition periods. Authors of The experiences of family members of deceased organ donors and suggestions to improve the donation process conducted 271 in-depth interviews with family members of organ donors.


On this episode, Drs Bigham and Omole speak with the study’s lead author Dr. Aimee Sarti. Dr. Sarti is an ICU physician in Ottawa. But first, they speak with Heather Talbot. Ms. Talbot’s son Jonathan became an organ donor after his death in 2009.


Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something you'd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast.

You can find Blair and Mojola on X @BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole

X (in English): @CMAJ
X (en français): @JAMC
Facebook
Instagram: @CMAJ.ca

The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions