Donation Terminology 101

Words have the power to hurt and heal; to encourage or create despair; to promote understanding or contribute to misconception. That has never been truer than in dealing with the sensitive subject of organ, eye and tissue donation.

Certain words have been in the donation and transplantation lexicon for years, without much regard for the effect they have on potential donors, and donor families.

• Instead of the word "harvest," use "recover." It is a better word that doesn't conjure up visions of crops, crows and combines. "Surgical recovery of organs," is better than "harvesting of organs".
• Use of the word "cadaver" or the phrase "cadaveric donation" tends to depersonalize the gift of donation. It is suggested that the use of "deceased donor" and "deceased donation" provide a more positive message to donor families and the general public.
• Another sensitive area is the use of the words "life support" when referring to someone on "mechanical or ventilated support." There are two ways of determining death: when the heart stops functioning and when the brain stops functioning. Most organ donors suffer brain death before donation, and are on "mechanical support" when they die. During that time, the donor’s organs are perfused with oxygen for several hours, with "mechanical or ventilated support." When death occurs, there is no support that can make the individual live again, and using that terminology can confuse donor families.

Words mean everything when a donor family is dealing with the shock and grief over the death of a loved one, and words may make the critical difference when someone is trying to decide whether or not to become and organ, eye and tissue donor.