# A Person-Centred Approach to Organ Donation Decision-Making After Brain Death: A Case Report

## TL;DR

This case study explores how a person-centred approach helped a family navigate the emotional challenges of organ donation after brain death.

## Contribution

The paper demonstrates the application of person-centred nursing in supporting families during organ donation decision-making.

## Key findings

- Repeated empathetic communication improved family understanding and trust.
- Respecting spiritual beliefs and facilitating farewell rituals supported decision-making.
- A person-centred approach fostered shared decision-making and meaning-making.

## Abstract

Organ donation following brain death represents a complex and emotionally charged process that extends beyond biomedical decision-making and is embedded within the broader context of end-of-life care in the intensive care unit. Although brain death is legally and medically recognised as death, families often experience significant emotional, cognitive, and existential challenges when asked to consider organ donation. We present the case of a 57-year-old man who progressed to death by neurologic criteria following severe hypoxic-ischemic injury. The case focuses on the family approach and the decision-making process surrounding organ donation. Initial difficulties in understanding the diagnosis, religious concerns, emotional distress, and the need for time and presence at the bedside were central to the family’s experience. Through repeated, empathetic communication, respect for the family’s spiritual beliefs, and the facilitation of meaningful farewell rituals, the healthcare team supported the family in reaching a consensual, values-aligned decision. The discussion analyses the case using the Person-centred Nursing Framework, highlighting how person-centred prerequisites, care environment, and processes contributed to trust, shared decision-making, and meaning-making.