LIVES could be saved or dramatically changed, but the decision to consent to organ donation always rests with family members as they prepare to say goodbye to a loved one.
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You may have registered to donate your organs or tissues, but in Australia your family always has the final say.
The process and suitability of a potential donor follows strict guidelines and the conversation is only had at a specific point in time.
"They [the patient] have to be in critical care and they have to be at the end of life or on the pathway of brain death," donation specialist nurse Christian Van Reede said.
"It's usually when they're discussing withdrawing treatment."
It is at this point where one of the NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service's donation specialist nurses are contacted.
A lot of our role is supporting the family because they play such a crucial role it the donation process. We allow families to go through that grieving process.
- Donation specialist nurse Christian Van Reede said
Mr Van Reede is one of the on-call nurses who are tasked across the Central West to talk to and support families as they consider donation.
"It's quite often confronting at times, but we offer a lot of support to make the right decision for them and their family member," Mr Van Reede said.
"Some of these situations [why the patient is in hospital] can be quite sudden and unexpected.
"A lot of our role is supporting the family because they play such a crucial role it the donation process. We allow families to go through that grieving process."
Mr Van Reede said sometimes the family can be unaware of their loved one's wishes to donate.
"Nine out of 10 families do agree to the donation if they know their family member has registered for organ donation," he said.
READ MORE: Why I registered to be an organ donor
If the family consents to donation, an assessment on whether the patient is medically suitable will be conducted.
If suitability is confirmed, Mr Van Reede said transplant teams will always be brought into the area.
"The patient doesn't ever leave the hospital, the retrieval teams come to regional areas," he said.
Donation specialist nurses work collaboratively with medical staff to ensure the patient and family's needs are supported.
Mr Van Reede urged anyone who has registered, or is thinking about doing so, to tell their loved ones.
"Speak with your family, have that discussion, if it's something you feel you wanted to do if you're ever in hospital on life support," he said.
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Nadine Morton
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
