Korean J Transplant.  2022 Nov;36(Supple 1):S353. 10.4285/ATW2022.F-4961.

The reasons for consenting to organ donation in the family

• Hazrati M
• Shahriari S
• Ghorbani F
• Abbasi A
• Dhghani S
• Jafari F
• Rahmani L
• Roshanzamir G
• Safari M
• Gheidi F
• Mirbahaeddin SK

• KMID: 2535580
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/ATW2022.F-4961

Abstract

Background
Brain death is the most important source of organ procurement for patients with end stage organ failure. The causes of donor loss is divided into two main categories including: the potential donor may not be clinically suitable and family refusal. Although many studies have reported the causes of family refusal, literature is poor regarding the causes of willing to donation. Respecting family refusal, lake of knowledge and believing in miracles are major reasons for family refusal. Identifying the factors that influence a family's decision could improve the quality of family interview.
Methods
This qualitative study has been conducted at in organ procurement unit of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran. We randomly selected 100 families of brain-dead donors from 2018 to 2021 and assess the reasons of consent to donation via an interview by a semi-structured questionnaire.
Results
Sympathy by patients on waiting list was the most frequent reason (74%). This idea that the donor would be alive after organ transplantation was the second trigger factor (15%) and hope to be forgiven was another facilitating factor (6%) and some other reasons such as donation card of the brain dead person, being famous, getting some points in 5%. There was a significant association between mentioned factors and different causes of brain death. In donors who were children under the age of 14 years, the most common reason was willing to meet the recipients and for middle-aged donors, the most motivating factor for relatives' was sympathy. Families of young aged donors agreed to donation with the intention of their loved one to be forgiven.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that the transplant coordinators should pay attention not only to the religious, cultural and social aspects, but also they should consider the causes of brain death and the donor's age to obtain consent for organ donation.