Funeral directors can help to honor your loved one through tissue donation.
Northwest Tissue Services provides healthcare professionals and funeral directors with information and resources to help families that have lost a loved one understand the entire donation process. The goal of approaching a family about donation is to offer an informed choice and to support their decision, whether they choose to consent or not. Families are given time to think about the options offered to them and time to ask questions.
If someone chooses to donate, the next of kin is asked to sign a consent document. An informed consent must include the specific organs and tissues the family wishes to donate, a statement regarding the intended use for the tissues (transplantation or advancement of medical science and education or research), and information regarding infectious disease testing to be performed. Consent can be obtained by a donation coordinator from any of the procurement agencies or by hospital staff trained to obtain informed consent.
When this process is handled with care and sensitivity, it can have both immediate and long term benefits for the donor family by making the donation experience a positive one for family and friends.