A three-day Masterclass on ‘Deceased Organ Donation' was hosted by KLES Dr Prabhakar Kore Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belagavi from April 10 to 12, 2024. MOHAN Foundation was the knowledge partner for the event which was supported by the SBI Foundation.

 The masterclass included the following lectures:

• Deceased donor transplant - Legal framework - Ms. Sujatha Suriyamoorthi, Associate Director, Courses, MOHAN Foundation

The session outlined brain death certification and documentation process, consent requirements, organ allocation guidelines, and penalties for any violations. The session also covered topics such as licensing requirements for conducting transplantations and deceased donations, the various stakeholders involved in the process, and the government bodies overseeing these activities.

• Breaking bad news - Ms. Sujatha Suriyamoorthi, Associate Director, Courses, MOHAN Foundation

 The session addressed the delicate and challenging task of breaking bad news which requires empathy, sensitivity, and effective communication skills. The barriers, difficulties and the components involved in this challenging communication was discussed in detail.

• Approaching families for organ donation - Mrs. Lalitha Raghuram, Country Director, MOHAN Foundation

 Approaching families for organ donation requires empathy, sensitivity, and effective communication skills to navigate this challenging conversation with compassion and respect for the family's needs and wishes. This was highlighted in this session with the use of case discussions.

• Deceased Organ Donation Process - Dr. Nagaraj, SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad

 The intricate process of deceased organ donation was explained, emphasizing the crucial role of a donor coordinator. The session delved into the multifaceted responsibilities of a coordinator, covering tasks from brain death declaration to handing over the body. The donation process, coordination within the hospital, transplant teams, organ distribution body, and other stakeholders were explained. The importance of effective communication and timely coordination were stressed in the session.

• Communication & Team building - Mrs. Lalitha Raghuram, Country Director, MOHAN Foundation

 The session emphasized the significance of effective communication, its essential elements and offering strategies to improve communication skills. Additionally, team building activities and initiatives were highlighted to underscore the value of collaboration, building team and strengthening relationships among team members.

• Coordinating MLC cases & Difficult donations - Ms. Ranjini Shankar, Project Manager, MOHAN Foundation

 The guidelines for deceased donation in Medico-legal cases (MLC), role of police and authorisation from forensic medicine were discussed in detail with case studies.

 The masterclass featured a variety of engaging activities, such as:

• Role-playing scenarios for counselling grieving families - Simulated interactions with individuals who experience the loss of a loved one which allowed to practice realistic and constructive conversations in handling emotional and delicate conversations

• Deceased organ donation - Pathway - Emphasized the step-by-step process to ensure a seamless and successful organ donation

• Quiz on coordinating medico-legal cases - An interactive quiz activity centred around the coordination of medico-legal cases and designed to enhance participants' understanding of the complexities and nuances of coordinating medico-legal cases

• Frequently asked questions - Addressing these questions effectively helps ensure that recipients, donors, and caregivers are well-informed and feel more comfortable with the decision-making process and the journey ahead. The participants were given an opportunity to handle these questions under the guidance of the faculty

 Team-building exercises - Activity addressed fostering collaboration and effective communication among participants