Organ donation
Deceased
Causes of Family Refusal for Organ Donation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transproceed.2011.01.031Get rights and content

Abstract

Introduction

Family refusal represents a barrier for organ donation together with other cultural and religious factors possible ignorance and clinical obstacles.

Methods

We performed this retrospective study by phone employing our organ procurement unit database, using a list of families of potential organ donors who had refused organ donation.

Results

In 2009, 146 potential organ donor families refused donation. We contacted 81 families. The main reason expressed by there families to justify the refusal to donate the deceased's organs was denial and rejection of brain-death criteria (44.4%). Other causes were believing in a miracle (13.6%); fear about organ trade and unknown organ destination (9.9%); religious beliefs (8.6%); insecutrity about the brain-death diagnosis (6.2%); unstable family mood (6.2%); unknown donor wishes about donation (4.9%); belief in body integrity after death (3.7%); and fear of objection by other family members (2.5%).

Conclusion

Our findings showed several reasons for family refusal for organ donation; among the main cause is poor acceptance of brain death. It seems that increasing the knowledge of people about brain death and organizing strategies to confirm brain death for families are necessary to meet the organ shortage.

Section snippets

Materials and Methods

We performed a retrospective study in our organ procurement unit (OPU). We prepared a list of families of potential organ donors referred to the OPU in 2009 who had refused organ donation. We recorded demographic information and brain-death causes for each patient. An expert coordinator asked the causes of refusal from nodonor family members by phone. Frequency distribution was used for data description.

Results

ln this study, we could contact 81 out of 146 nondonor families. 58 (72%) were males and 22 (38%) were female. The mean age of candidates was 32 years (range = 18–55). Trauma was the most prominent cause of brain death (38%).

The main reasons expressed by families to justify refusal to donate the deceased's organs were: denial and rejection of brain death (44.4%); belief in a miracle (13.6%); fear about organ trade and unknown organ destination (9.9%); religious beliefs (8.6%); concern about the

Discussion

The main reasons expressed by the deceased's families to justify refusal to organ donation in our survey were denial and rejection of brain death. Brain death, agreed as death by physicians worldwide, is not completely comprehended by the general population. Family members of donors find it hard to identify that someone with a beating heart is dead. Not only among the general population but also among many health care specialists who help possible organ donors, the perception of brain death

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