Why relatives do not donate organs for transplants: 'sacrifice' or 'gift of life'?
Why relatives do not donate organs for transplants: 'sacrifice' or 'gift of life'?
Aim. This paper is a report of a study to explore the reasons family members declined organ donation from a deceased relative.
Background. In the United Kingdom family members’ consent is usually sought before organ donation from their deceased relative can proceed. Knowledge of the concerns that may influence families’ decision-making could be helpful to nurses supporting bereaved family members.
Method. A convenience sample of 26 family members, who declined donation of their deceased relatives’ (n = 23) organs, were recruited via three media campaigns in large conurbations and from four intensive care units in the United Kingdom. Data were collected in 2005 using interviews.
Findings. Donation decisions depended on a number of converging factors in a particular situation and not necessarily on the views of relatives about donation, or the reported wishes of the deceased in life, except if the person had stated that they did not wish to be an organ donor. Therefore, reported pro-donation views held by the family, or the deceased in life, did not guarantee donation. Protecting the dead body, which related to keeping the body whole and intact was the most frequently-recurring theme, being reported in 15 interviews.
Conclusion. Families’ wishes to protect the dead body may stimulate tension between the notions of ‘gift of life’ as supported by transplant policy and ‘sacrifice’ of the body, which must be made if organ donation is to proceed. This could account for the decision of participants to decline donation even if their deceased relative previously held positive views about organ donation.
empirical research report, gift, interviews, nursing, organ donation, sacrifice, transplants
134-144
Sque, Magi
cf51892a-93cb-4167-965c-647970c9896e
Long, Tracy
92a6d1ba-9ec9-43f2-891e-5bfdb5026532
Payne, Sheila
d7c97f41-ec69-4157-9339-ca07c521fbcc
Allardyce, Diane
89aaf648-5ed4-4d24-b4a2-9d7570f02ffc
January 2008
Sque, Magi
cf51892a-93cb-4167-965c-647970c9896e
Long, Tracy
92a6d1ba-9ec9-43f2-891e-5bfdb5026532
Payne, Sheila
d7c97f41-ec69-4157-9339-ca07c521fbcc
Allardyce, Diane
89aaf648-5ed4-4d24-b4a2-9d7570f02ffc
Abstract
Aim. This paper is a report of a study to explore the reasons family members declined organ donation from a deceased relative.
Background. In the United Kingdom family members’ consent is usually sought before organ donation from their deceased relative can proceed. Knowledge of the concerns that may influence families’ decision-making could be helpful to nurses supporting bereaved family members.
Method. A convenience sample of 26 family members, who declined donation of their deceased relatives’ (n = 23) organs, were recruited via three media campaigns in large conurbations and from four intensive care units in the United Kingdom. Data were collected in 2005 using interviews.
Findings. Donation decisions depended on a number of converging factors in a particular situation and not necessarily on the views of relatives about donation, or the reported wishes of the deceased in life, except if the person had stated that they did not wish to be an organ donor. Therefore, reported pro-donation views held by the family, or the deceased in life, did not guarantee donation. Protecting the dead body, which related to keeping the body whole and intact was the most frequently-recurring theme, being reported in 15 interviews.
Conclusion. Families’ wishes to protect the dead body may stimulate tension between the notions of ‘gift of life’ as supported by transplant policy and ‘sacrifice’ of the body, which must be made if organ donation is to proceed. This could account for the decision of participants to decline donation even if their deceased relative previously held positive views about organ donation.
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Published date: January 2008
Keywords:
empirical research report, gift, interviews, nursing, organ donation, sacrifice, transplants
Organisations:
Nursing & Midwifery
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 50527
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/50527
ISSN: 0309-2402
PURE UUID: c1345588-e9ba-4fee-9f35-ae911ca48e63
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 26 Feb 2008
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:24
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Contributors
Author:
Magi Sque
Author:
Sheila Payne
Author:
Diane Allardyce
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