Combining Empathy With Creativity to Encourage Organ Donation in Lebanon

Conflicts can arise when a medical team declares a patient brain dead, especially in Lebanon, where families may be reluctant to accept the diagnosis for religious or cultural reasons. Families sometimes withhold consent for organ donation until they can reconcile their beliefs with their concerns. This manuscript examines these challenges through the eyes of an ICU nurse, who described what happened when a 22-year-old woman was declared brain dead. The nurse explains how she helped the patient's family overcome their objections to organ donation despite some nurses exacerbating the situation by arguing with the family about the patient's care. I use Stein's theory of empathy and Castoriadis' concepts of radical imagination and social imagery to interpret the conflict that emerged due to Lebanese law, which permits families to veto organ donation and prohibits the withdrawal of life support unless requested by the patient's next of kin or legally authorized representative. The case study highlights the importance of trust, compassion, and kindness in helping families resolve organ donation conflicts. ICU nurses who earn families' trust can help them make informed decisions about organ donation without compromising their religious and cultural beliefs. This approach improves outcomes for waitlisted organ recipients. Resolving conflicts requires nurses to stay true to their values and accept responsibility. While the case study focuses on Lebanon, creative nursing practices have the potential to address brain death and after-death care disputes in other jurisdictions.