The attitude of society towards the procurement and transplantation of organs from deceased donors

Abstract

Background. The dynamic development of transplantation medicine has become an opportunity to save and prolong life in patients with end-stage organ failure. Unfortunately the procurement of organs is a subject very delicate socially, require approval and informed consent of society. First of all, requires the approval of potential donors for organ donation after death. A lot of controversy on this issue arouses determining when human death. Despite developed and adopted reliable procedures for adjudication of the death and the introduction of legislation, there is still a large deficit of knowledge on the subject. Objectives. The aim of the study is to assess the attitude of Polish society towards the procurement and transplantation of organs from deceased donors. Material and methods. The study was conducted among 150 randomly selected people, using own survey constructed on the basis of existing legislation and adjudication criteria for brain death. Results. The majority of respondents (96.6%) knows the concept of “transplantation” and knowledge of the subject taken from the mass media: in accordance with 64% in group I, 72% in group II and as much as 94% of group III. A small part of respondents had direct contact with people waiting for a transplant (12% in group I, 32% in group III and 40% of those polled from group II). The vast consent for the procurement organs from a deceased family member expresses: 24% of respondents in group I, 30% in group II and 28% in group III. Unfortunately, the overwhelming part of the respondents in all three groups (60% vs. 70% and the II vs. 68% in the III) think about getting organs from deceased family should decide, moreover, the vast majority of them do not know the legal acts in force in Poland on organ procurement and transplantation. In all 3 groups of respondents say that doctors should respect the will of the family for donations despite a written objection of the deceased: definitely yes answered 36% of the group I vs. 44% of the group II and group III, but rather that answered accordingly (46% vs. 46% vs. 38%). A very low percentage of respondents in each group indicates the correct definition of human death. Conclusions. 1. The Polish society regardless of age show a positive attitude towards the procurement and transplantation of organs from deceased donors, however, it has a low awareness of existing legislation and the criteria for determining human death. 2. Lack of awareness about the criteria for determining human death and a lack of knowledge of legislation is not the cause of disagreement on the donation. 3. Younger people have a greater acceptance of donations than the elderly.