Social work and organ transplantation

Area of Science:

• Transplantation Medicine
• Social Work in Healthcare

Background:

• Nonsurgical aspects of organ transplantation are complex, requiring multidisciplinary expertise.
• The organ donation, procurement, and transplantation process involves significant ethical and psychosocial challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and delineate the roles social workers can assume in organ transplantation.
• To explore social workers' contributions at societal, institutional, and individual case levels.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis of social work roles in transplantation.
• Discussion of ethical considerations and psychosocial support strategies.

Main Results:

• Social workers can advocate against organ commercialization and promote public education on organ donation.
• They can foster equitable donor allocation systems and provide comprehensive support to donor families.
• Social workers assist families in navigating the decision-making process and coping with loss.

Conclusions:

• Integrating social workers into organ transplantation enhances the process's humanistic aspects.
• Social work interventions support donor families and optimize resource allocation, allowing medical teams to focus on clinical care.