Attitudes and Incentives in Organ Procurement: Report to the Health Care Financing Administration. Part 2. The Attitudes of the American Public

摘要

The study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge about cadaver organ procurement and the willingness of individuals to participate in organ procurement activities. Three groups were surveyed: (1) health professionals, (2) the general public and (3) relatives of organ donors. This volume presents results of the survey of the American public. Overall, among the American Public, there is widespread support of organ donation and organ donation is preceived as socially desireable. Familiarity with, and discussion of, organ transplantation is also very common. On the other hand, organ donation itself is still not something a majority of Americans have discussed with their families. About one-half of respondents would be willing to donate an organ from a relative in the absence of that relative's preferences. However, 25 percent would change their mind if it was explicitly stated that the relative had been declared brain dead. People need assurance that being a potential donor will not decrease efforts to save a person's life. There is no widespread support for basic policy changes in the current voluntary organ donation system with the exception of support for required request/routine inquiry legislation.