Introduction: In recent years, corneal donations from terminally ill cancer patients have gained increasing attention in clinical practice. Beyond offering recipients the gift of sight, such donations allow patients to find closure at the end of life and provide families with a sense of meaning and continuity in the grieving process. However, the decision to donate is rarely straightforward. It often involves deeply personal motivations, cultural and spiritual beliefs, and dynamic interactions between patients, family members, and healthcare professionals.
This study aims to explore the considerations and experiences surrounding corneal donation decisions among terminal cancer patients and their families. Specifically, we sought to understand the motivations behind pre-declared donation intent, the beliefs that sustain this commitment, and the perceived meanings and outcomes of donation from both patient and family perspectives.
Methods: Using a secondary data analysis approach, we examined 15 cases in which patients or families consented to corneal donation at a cancer-specialized hospital in Taiwan between January 2022 and December 2024. Data sources included medical records, social worker assessments, and family care documentation. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key patterns and insights into the decision-making process.
Results: Of the 15 cases, 11 patients proactively expressed their wish to donate, 1 was initiated by the family, and 3 were identified through organ donation registration noted on the patient’s National Health Insurance card, subsequently confirmed by the healthcare team. Ultimately, 10 donations were completed; 5 were not due to medical disqualification upon final assessment.
Major patient motivations included altruism, the desire to give back to society, and a belief in extending bodily value beyond death. Family members emphasized fulfilling the patient’s final wishes and noted that sufficient information and emotional support were critical in their decision to consent. Both patients and families described the donation process as providing new meaning to life and a sense of spiritual peace during the dying journey.
Conclusion: This study reveals that corneal donation represents an existential choice for terminal cancer patients and their families to reconstruct the meaning of life.It offers patients and families a way to reconstruct life’s value at its end. We recommend that healthcare providers initiate timely conversations about donation, offer accurate information, and provide consistent psychosocial support to empower patient autonomy and enhance the overall quality of end-of-life care.