Nursing Perspectives of Altruistic Organ Donors and Their Families

Lerman Y, Malka N, Califa RB, Qoussine S and Benbenishty J

Published on: 2023-08-10

Abstract

Living unrelated altruistic kidney donation is acceptable in many countries like Spain, Sweden and Israel. Despite increase in altruistic living organ donation, society and health care professionals perceive living non-relative organ donors as patients expecting preferential treatment compared to the other patients.

Aim To examine nurses' perspectives towards population of altruistic donors and families.

Design: This descriptive, quantitative cross-sectional nursing survey questions developed based on literature review and underwent construct validity.

Results: The study population 77 nurses caring for altruistic organ donators, 47 of which considered themselves religious. A statistically significant difference (p<.01) of Surgical department nurses (66.67%) compared to operating room (43.33%) and recovery room (15%) nurses believed altruistic donors expected preferential treatment. Higher prevalence of operating room participants (33.33%) answering having ethical dilemmas when treating altruistic donors, compared to surgical department (23.81%) and recovery room (10.00% p = .01). As seniority increased, there was a lower incidence of nurses experiencing expectation from altruistic donors for preferential treatment.

Conclusion: People altruistically donating an organ are a unique population with specific needs. We need to prepare the public and medical teams to cope with this distinctive "patient" population.