Doação de órgãos: um estudo em representações sociais na saúde

Abstract

Organ transplant emerged in human medicine as a virtual possibility to prolong life. The organ transplant became routine in the hospitals, demanding that all health professionals be capable of dealing with this matter as well as be able to work effectively in order to ensure that the organ transplant is accomplished. The focus of this research was to elucidate the perception of the intensive care doctors and nurses that work in an adult ICU located in the inner part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, about organ donation. The study consisted of a descriptive exploratory analysis from semi-structured individual interviews and content analysis. Death was a frequent issue brougth up during the interviews since its precise diagnosis is absolutely necessary for the organ transplant. The lack of well-equipped facilities and human resources, in addition to communication flaws between teams in the process was pointed as a frustrating experience for the professionals. The study and the training about the subject were considered important to better qualify the health professionals practice, both considering the discussion and the argument of the ambiguities when talking about death and organ donation. The possibility of organ donation was influenced by the perception of death, defined by health professionals as cardio respiratory arrest. The diagnosis of brain death was presented as a the beginning of death, which differed from the meaning of passing away: death and passing did not appeared as sinonimous, rather a consecutive phenomenon. Facing the possibility of organ donation and, more importantly of death, caused an impact in the health professional performance and a certain disagreement among the professionals involved. This situation lead them to seek ―pain relieve‖ in their daily routine. The process of organ donation was compromised by the hesitation of health professionals. At the same time, the resistance showed by the interviewed people to accept death created an opportunity for the organ transplant procedure and a life saving act.