On January 11, 2025, MOHAN Foundation and the Network and Alliance of Transplant Coordinators (NATCO) organized a masterclass on "Family Approach to Counselling in Organ Donation" for their employees and NATCO members. Dr. Radha Sundaram, Consultant – Intensive Care & Anaesthetics at Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley, and Clinical Lead for Organ Donation with NHS Blood and Transplant, was the invited expert for the masterclass. The session was moderated by Dr. Muneet Kaur Sahi, Programme Manager, MOHAN Foundation NCR.

The masterclass aimed to educate participants on the Family Approach to Counselling in Organ Donation. This compassionate, patient-centered approach supports families in making informed decisions about organ donation during challenging times. It emphasizes understanding family dynamics, cultural beliefs, and emotional concerns to ensure that counselling is both empathetic and respectful.

Dr. Radha has been working since 1997 in intensive care and anesthetics and has focused her efforts on addressing organ donation inequalities affecting Black and ethnic minority groups. She collaborates with the NHS, government, and educational institutions to promote public awareness, integrate organ donation into medical curricula, and advance equity and inclusion.

During the masterclass, Dr. Radha discussed several key topics in detail. She highlighted the gaps between donations and transplant needs in the UK, noting that despite progress, a significant disparity remains, with 6,959 patients on the waiting list compared to 3,576 transplants conducted last year. She provided insights into the increasing number of living donors in the UK, explained the opt-out system and its impact, and gave an overview of transplantation laws in England and Scotland. Ethical considerations in counselling were also explored, offering guidance on addressing challenges in this area.

Dr. Radha introduced the COMFRT tool, a structured approach that emphasizes futility consensus, organ and tissue donation, documentation, family involvement, cultural considerations, and follow-up. She underscored the importance of communication principles with families, emphasizing trust and building relationships from both donor and recipient perspectives. Collaboration and communication among the team involved were discussed through the concept of a shared mental model. Additionally, the masterclass highlighted the importance of professional education and cultural competency training for specialist nurses and reviewed key obstacles in the organ donation process.

Dr. Muneet asked about the effect of the UK’s transition from opt-in to opt-out consent. Dr. Radha explained that while the change has not significantly affected the overall organ donation rate, it has influenced the approach to discussing organ donation with families. The opt-out system has altered how the option of organ donation is presented and how families are approached, fostering more structured and meaningful conversations.

The webinar was attended by close to 42 participants, making it an enriching and impactful session for all involved.