Subjectivity on Organ Donation and Transplantation

Kwon, Young Mi; Yeun, Eun Ja

Abstract

This study was designed to identify the attitudes of the people on organ donation and transplantation. The purpose of this study was to provide data to help inspire organ donation, and promote registration yield so donor candidates will have more favorable recipients through Q-methodology. A Q-sample was developed through a review of the literature and interviews. Thirty-three statements made up the final Q-sample. The P-sample consisted of twenty-eight subjects, excluding chronic organic disorder. The Q-sorts by each subject were coded and analyzed with the QUNAL computer program. The results were as follows: This study discovered five different types of organ donation and transplantation of twenty- eight subjects. Type I is 'utilitarian.' The people of this type consider human life very valuable and they recognize that organ transplantation is an affirmative medicine that should be performed to extend human life. They believe that are saving others' lives by donating organs. Type II is 'sardonist.' The people of this type approve of organ transplantation usefulness, but they have no intention of participating in the program because of it may trample on human rights. Type III is 'individualist.' The people of this type consider it proper for the activation of organ transplantation by the legal system. They believe that organ donation a valuable too, but needs support through social benefits to donors. Yet, they have not intention of doing what they propose. Type IV is 'familist.' The people of this type have strong attachments to life but they think that organ donation and transplantation should be done between within a family. Type IV is disposition of family intensive consideration rather than altruistic and utilitarianism. Type V is 'deontologist.' The people of this type recognize the benefits of transplantation, but have a negative opinion of activation. They worry about ethical and social problems occurring in the development of modern medicine. They believe that death is the only natural end to life, so they have strong negative opinions of euthanasia and brain death compared to other types. They regard transplantation to be a non-human behavior, because it involves a removing organs and breaking the boundary of death. The findings of this study are only preliminary and serve as a baseline to understanding the subjectivity of individuals on organ donation and transplantation. Therefore, the subjectivity of the five types will be applied to formulate the educational programs and public relations strategies for organ donation because the public's awareness toward organ donation is closely related to their values, beliefs, and attitudes.