Public attitudes and behavior regarding organ donation

A telephone survey of 2,056 persons was conducted to ascertain public toward organ donation. Although 94% of the respondents had heard organ transplantation, only 19% carried donor cards and only 28% of the said they were willing to carry one. More persons (53%) were willing donate a relative's organs than their own (50%), and people were more to donate kidneys (50%) than other organs. Only 7% supported the of presumed consent to donation, and 58% of those polled felt that should not be able to override a person's wish to donate as by a donor card. The authors conclude that people are very of organ transplantation but are not as enthusiastic about donating. Further study is needed to determine whether greater understanding of concept of brain death would facilitate donation of cadaver organs. (KIE)