Week of the Donor Conversation: 'It brings peace of mind when organ donation has been discussed'
7 oktober 2023
Talk to your loved ones about your choice in the Donor Register. This helps them during sad moments and provides clarity.
Monday, October 9 marks the start of the Week of the Donor Conversation. With this campaign week, the Dutch Transplantation Foundation (NTS) lowers the threshold for talking to each other about the choice in the Donor Register.
And that is important. Because everyone is registered in the Donor Register, but by no means does everyone know the choice of their loved one. Therefore, the NTS is drawing attention to the donor conversation under the campaign title 'Just ask!'.
Talking to loved ones is important
Everyone aged 18 and over is in the Donor Register. But when a loved one dies (suddenly), do you know what this person's choice was? By talking to each other, you prevent your loved ones from being surprised, not knowing how you felt about it, or having to make difficult choices while they are already grieving. ICU doctor Diederik Gommers says about this: 'For all parties, it brings peace of mind when you know what someone would have wanted. Despite the overwhelming emotions and grief that are present.' And donation intensivist Farid Abdo shares from his own practice: 'A few weeks after a death in the ICU, we have a follow-up conversation with surviving relatives. Then we notice that people who were aware of the donor choice look back on it better. And that it can help in the grief processing.'
The Week of the Donor Conversation
During the campaign week, talking to each other about organ donation is normalized. Director of the NTS Naomi Nathan: 'Organ donation often seems like a far-from-your-bed show. But in the end, it can happen to anyone. Suppose you end up in the Intensive Care Unit and, in the worst-case scenario, the doctor has to discuss your choice in the Donor Register with your loved ones. Then it helps immensely if you have already discussed how you feel about it together at home. That conversation doesn't have to be heavy or tense. The NTS encourages this conversation.' The campaign can be seen in the media, on social media, and in podcasts. In videos, doctors and surviving relatives explain the importance of talking about organ donation. Hospitals in the Netherlands are also cooperating.
