Organ Transplantation and the Concept of Death Cover Image

Presađivanje organa i shvaćanje smrti
Organ Transplantation and the Concept of Death

Author(s): Jasenka Mršić Pelčić, Gordana Pelčić, Aleksandra Frković, Luka Tomašević, Anamarija Gjuran Coha, Ivan Šegota
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar
Keywords: organ transplantation; death; donor; recipient

Summary/Abstract: The comprehension of death, confidence in diagnosing brain death and confidence in the health system have a very important role in a person’s decision regarding organ donation. The results were obtained by statistical analysis of a questionnaire. When making the decision about organ donation around 30% of the examinees are concerned about the insufficiently exact definition of brain death, while 27,8% fear the possibility of life being deliberately taken with the purpose of organ selling, and 14,5% are concerned about what will happen to them after death. With regard to religious orientation, the Jewish and Muslims more often express concern because of the insufficiently exact definition of brain death; Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians and atheists are concerned about the doctor not struggling for their life in the case of a coma or similar health problem, while Protestants and atheists were more commonly worried about the possibility of deliberately taking life with the purpose of organ selling, and Jews because of the fear of what would happen to them after death. The diagnosis of brain death and the conditions which have to be fulfilled in that case, have to restitute order and safety in organ transplantation from the deceased person and also very important is the task of public education about organ transplantation.

  • Issue Year: 16/2007
  • Issue No: 92
  • Page Range: 1287-1304
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Croatian