When a new baby dies, how should doctors speak to parents about organ donation?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-11-07 03:00

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Parents who lose their baby soon after they are born should be offered the options of autopsy, organ donation or research donation even though the conversation is difficult, according to a small, international focus group study. The researchers recruited 14 mothers who had recently lost a new baby, and conducted a focus group to get their views on how to have a conversation about donation options, and whether it is appropriate to have the conversation at all. The researchers say while donation is not for every parent, participants said for parents who have such little opportunity to parent their child, giving them a choice about autopsy, organ donation, and research donation can be a meaningful parenting experience, and for some people an organ or tissue donation could provide additional meaning to a child's life. The researchers say if communication is done well and with empathy, informing parents of their options should be standard practice.