Transplant Guilt

Patients and doctors agree that when you have a heart transplant you can experience transplant guilt. Transplant guilt is when the heart transplant patient feels guilty about benefitting from someone's death. I never experienced transplant guilt, but that does not mean that it does not exist.

When you go through the process of even getting put on a heart transplant list the doctors tell you that there's a possibility that you may experience transplant guilt. You have to undergo a psychological evaluation to ensure you are a good candidate for transplantation. During the psychological assessment for a heart transplant, they are screening patients based on their ability to cope with the transplant as well as being able to deal with emotional stressors that come with transplantation.

The reason why I have not had transplant guilt could be a whole list of things. For my heart transplant journey, I never looked at it as guilt but as gratitude that someone would volunteer to become an organ donor. This is one of the most selfless things someone could do for another person. In my mind, an organ donor does not feel any guilt. Organ donors are heroes and they signed up to volunteer their organs, which can save the lives of many people.

Understanding why people with heart failure might have transplant guilt

I can understand why transplant guilt is a real thing because you think about your donor’s family and how much grief they must be feeling. The whole experience could be traumatic in the sense that someone is dying while someone else is essentially being born. This could also lead to depression.

Another reason why people feel transplant guilt is because it is almost like you are waiting and hoping for someone to die so they can benefit from the organ. Some people on the transplant list are very sick and are waiting for the call that an organ has been made available. Many people wait for more than 5 years on a heart transplant list and some of those people will die without an organ so it’s hard to reconcile this. After organ transplantation some people feel so guilty that they begin to blame themselves as if they are the reason their donor passed away.

My perspective: My donor is a hero

While all these thoughts mentioned above are valid, I see things from a different point of view. From my perspective, I see my donor as a hero and an angel for giving me a second chance at life. I am sure other transplant patients would say the same.

In my case, because of my donor, I’ve learned to appreciate every aspect of my life whether good or bad things are happening. I live life for my donor because I know if I am doing it then my donor is doing it with me. I’m enjoying my life for 2 people. That way I never forget what my donor did for me. It is because of them that I do not have advanced heart failure so I owe them to enjoy every minute of the second chance at life.

The importance of support if you have transplant guilt

Having transplant guilt is an emotional response and if you are feeling it then you should talk to your doctor and they will direct you to a therapist.