One of these two has to be a near relative, the second witness can be a friend or another relative. The Intensive Care Unit is the scene of innumerable battles between life and death. Life triumphs at times, death at others. The doctors working there have to be ever prepared to deal with grieving families who have a critically injured or a brain dead relative. The concept of brain death is relatively new.
Brain death is extremely traumatic to the family of the patient.
Feelings of intense grief, anger, despair and frustration run high in the family. The Transplant Co-ordinator explains to the family, the meaning of brain death, the tests that are done, the specialists involved, details of what organs can be removed and the fact that something positive can come out of something so negative and tragic. Transplant Co-ordinator has to convince the family to consent for donation. Without this all-important foundation being laid, there is no question of the transplant being performed. Every family can decide whether to donate or not.