Role of Social Worker in Cadaver Organ Donation and Transplant Coordination- A Single Centre Experience

Abstract

Medical advances in the field of transplant immunology, surgical management and techniques of organ preservation have made the transplantation of human organs a viable approach for the treatment of end stage organ diseases. When vital organs like heart, lungs, liver, pancreas etc. suffer a functional damage that cannot be repaired by drugs or any kind of conventional surgical treatment, organ transplant is often the only solution to the problem. Procurement of human organs, however, has been the biggest challenge to the success of transplant programme in the country. Although the removal of human organs for therapeutic purposes has been legalized by the government, it has not yet received social sanction to facilitate cadaver transplant in our country. Professionally qualified social workers play a crucial role in procurement of human organs for transplantation. They coordinate the entire process of cadaver organ donation, undertake public education and awareness activities provide training and continuing education to hospital staff and carry out research studies on topics related to organ donation and transplantation. The paper discusses about the role and activities of the social worker in cadaver organ donation and transplantation coordination at a tertiary healthcare institute of the country.