In Israel, most families of cadaver organ donors and transplant recipients who had made contact wanted transplant coordinators to facilitate this contact.

摘要

Context Most transplantable organs are provided by brain-dead, multi-organ donors. The donation process is such that donor families and transplant recipients generally know little about each other. However, some form of communication between the two, often in the form of anon-ymised letters, is now relatively common. Such information has been found to be beneficial; for donor families it can help demonstrate that something meaningful has come from death and for recipients and provides a means of expressing gratitude to the donor family. However, research also indicates that such contact can be problematic and can result in unrealistic expectations and onerous feelings of guilt. Transplant coordinators therefore have an essential role to play in managing this complex process.