Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Biopsychosocial Perspectives on Transplantation pp 59–70Cite as

Psychological Considerations of Living Organ Donation

  • Chapter

Abstract

Fifty years ago, the idea of removing an organ from a perfectly healthy individual for the sole purpose of transplanting it into a person with end-stage kidney disease was considered revolutionary (Merrill, Murray, Harrison, & Guild, 1956). Today, however, this donation-transplantation dance is done with some degree of regularity and has been done over 85,000 times worldwide since 1954. In addition to kidneys, transplant surgeons now use portions of the liver, lung, heart, and pancreas from living donors (Benedetti et al., 1999; Cohen et al., 1994; Oaks et al., 1994; Starnes, et al, 1994; Sutherland, Goetz, & Najarian, 1984; Uemoto et al., 2000). While transplant programs previously would consider only living related organ donation, there has been a recent movement toward donations in which the recipient is not genetically related or is even unknown to the donor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ashley, B.M., & O’Rourke, K.D. (1989). Reconstructing human beings. In B.M. Ashley & K.D. O’Rourke (eds.), Health care ethics: A theological analysis. St. Louis: The Catholic Health Association of the United States.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benedetti, E., E, Dunn, T., Massad, M.G., Raofi, V., Bartholomew, A., Gruessner, R.W.G., & Brecklin, C. (1999). Successful living related simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant between identical twins. Transplantation, 67, 915–934.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bliss, A., & Stuber, M.L. (1999). Giving life for the second time: A preliminary study of parental partial liver donation for pediatric transplantation. Families, Systems & Health, 17,217–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broelsch, C.E., Malago, M, Testa, G., & Gamazo, C.V. (2000). Living donor liver transplantation in adults: Outcome in Europe. Liver Transplantation, 6, S64–S65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Callero, P.L., & Piliavin, J.A. (1983). Developing a commitment to blood donation: The impact of one’s first experience. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 13, 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, R.G., Barr, M.L., Schenkel, F.A., DeMeester, T.R., Wells, W.J., & Starnes, V.A. (1994). Living-related donor lobectomy for bilateral lobar transplantation in patients with cystic fibrosis. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 57, 1423–1427.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fehrman-Ekholm, I., Brink, B., Ericsson, C., Elinder, C-G., Duner, F., & Lundgren, G. (2000). Kidney donors don’t regret. Transplantation, 69, 2067–2071.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fellner, C.H., & Marshall, J.R. (1968). Twelve kidney donors. Journal of the American Medical Association, 206, 2703–2707.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fellner, C.H., & Schwartz, S.H. (1971). Altruism and disrepute: Medical versus public attitudes toward the living organ donor. New England Journal of Medicine, 284, 582–585.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fujita, S., Kim, I.D., Uryuhara, K., Asonuma, K., Egawa, H., Kiuchi, T., Hayashi, M., Uemoto, S., Inomata, Y, & Tanaka, K. (2000). Hepatic grafts from live donors: Donor morbidity for 470 cases of live donation. Transplant International, 13, 333–339.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirvas, J., Enckell, M., Kuhlback, B., & Pasternack, A. (1976). Psychological and social problems encountered in active treatment of chronic uremia. Acta Medica Scandinavica, 200, 17–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirvas, J., Enckell, M., Kuhlback, B., & Pasternack, A. (1980). Psychological and social problems encountered in active treatment of chronic uremia. Acta Medica Scandinavica, 208, 285–287.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, E.M., Anderson, J.K., Jacobs, C., Suh, G., Humar, A., Suhr, B.D., Kerr, S.R., & Matas, A.J. (1999). Long-term follow-up of living kidney donors: Quality of life after donation. Transplantation, 67, 717–721.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, E.M., Remucal, M.J., Gillingham, K.J., Dahms, R.A., Najarian, J.S., & Matas, A.J. (1997). Complications and risks of donor nephrectomy. Transplantation, 64, 1124–1128.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kamstra-Hennen, L., Beebe, J., Strum, S., & Simmons, R.G. (1981). Ethical evaluation of related donation: The donor after five years. Transplantation Proceedings, 13, 60–61.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karrfelt, H.M.E., Berg, U.B., Lindblad, F.I.E., & Tyden, G.E. (1998). To be or not to be a living donor. Transplantation, 65, 915–918.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kemph, J.P. (1966). Renal failure, artificial kidney and kidney transplant. American Journal of Psychiatry, 122, 1270–1274.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kemph, J.P. (1967). Psychotherapy with patients receiving kidney transplant American Journal of Psychiatry, 124, 623–629.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Live Organ Donor Consensus Group. (2000). Consensus statement on the live organ donor. Journal of the American Medical Association, 284, 2919–2926.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marcos, A., Ham, J.M., Fisher, R.A., Olzinski, A.T., & Posner, M.P. (2000). Single-center analysis of the first 40 adult-to-adult living donor liver transplants using the right lobe. Liver Transplantation, 6, 296–301.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, J.R., & Fellner, C.H. (1977). Kidney donors revisited. American Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 575–576.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merrill, J.P., Murray, J.E., Harrison, J.H., & Guild, W.R. (1956). Successful homotransplantation of the human kidney between identical twins. Journal of the American Medical Association, 160, 277–282.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Najarian, J.S., Chavers, B.M., McHugh, L.E., & Matas, A.J. (1992). 20 years or more of follow-up of living kidney donors. Lancet, 340, 807–810.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oaks, T.E., Aravot, D., Dennis, C., Wells, F.C., Large, S.R., & Wallwork, J. (1994). Domino heart transplantation: The Papworth experience. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 13, 433–437.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olbrisch, M.E., Benedict, S.M., Haller, D.L., & Levenson, J.L. (2001). Psychosocial assessment of living organ donors: Clinical and ethical considerations. Unpublished manuscript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Omoto, A.M., & Snyder, M. (1995). Sustained helping without obligation: Motivation, longevity of service, and perceived attitude change among AIDS volunteers. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 671–686.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oswalt, R.M. (1977). A review of blood donor motivation and recruitment. Transfusion, 17, 123–135.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radecki, C.M., & Jaccard, J. (1997). Psychological aspects of organ donation: A critical review and synthesis of individual and next-of-kin donation decisions. Health Psychology, 16, 183–195.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Renz, J.F., & Roberts, J.P. (2000). Long-term complications of living donor liver transplantation. Liver Transplantation, 6, S73–S76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scheier, M., Carver, C.S., & Bridges, M. (1994). Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A re-evaluation of the Life Orientation Test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 1063–1078.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schover, L.R., Streem, S.B., Boparai, N., Duriak, K., & Novick, A.C. (1997). The psychosocial impact of donating a kidney: Long-term followup from a urology based center. Journal of Urology, 157, 1596–1601.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M.E.P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, R.G. (1981). Psychological reactions to giving a kidney. In N.B. Levy (ed.), Psychonephrology (Vol. 1) (pp. 227–245). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, R.G. (1983). Long-term reactions of renal recipients and donors. In N.B. Levy (ed.), Psychonephrology (Vol. 1) (pp. 275–287). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, R.G., & Anderson, C.R. (1982). Related donors and recipients: Five to nine years post-transplant Transplantation Proceedings, 14, 9–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, R.G., & Anderson, C.R. (1985). Social-psychological problems in living donor transplantation. Transplant and Clinical Immunology, 16 ,47–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, R.G., Klein Marine, S., & Simmons, R.L. (1987). Gift of life: The effect of organ transplantation on individual, family, and societal dynamics. New York: Transaction Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, R.G., Klein, S.D., & Simmons, R.L. (1977). Gift of life: The social and psychological impact of organ transplantation. New York: A Wiley-Interscience.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, R.G., Klein, S.D., & Thornton, K. (1973). The family member’s decision to be a kidney transplant donor. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 4, 88–115.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spital, A. (2000). Evolution of attitudes at U.S. transplant centers toward kidney donation by friends and altruistic strangers. Transplantation, 69, 1728–1731.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Starnes, V.A., Barr, M.L., Cohen, F.A., Schenkel, F.A, Barbers, R.G. and the USC Transplant Group. (1994). Bilateral living-related lobar transplantation for cystic fibrosis: Initial experience. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 13, S57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterneck, M.R., Fischer, L., Nischwitz, U., Burdelski, M., Kjer, S., Latta, A., Malago, M., Peterson, J., Pothman, W., & Rogiers, X. (1995). Selection of the living liver donor. Transplantation, 60, 667–671.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, D.E.R., Goetz, F.C., & Najarian, J.S. (1984). Pancreas transplants from related donors. Transplantation, 38, 625–633.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Switzer, G.E., Dew, M.A., Butterworth, V.A., Simmons, R.L., & Schimmel, M. (1997). Understanding donors’ motivations: A study of unrelated bone marrow donors. Social Science and Medicine, 45, 137–147.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Switzer, G.E., Dew, M.A., & Twillman, R.K. (2000). Psychosocial issues in living organ donation. In P.T. Trzepacz & A.F. DiMartini (eds.), The transplant patient: Biological, psychiatric, and ethical issues in organ transplantation (pp. 42–66). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Uemoto, S., Inomata, Y, Sakurai, T., Egawa, H., Fujita, S., Kiuchi, T., Hayashi, M., Yasutomi, M., Yamabe, H, & Tanaka, K. (2000). Living donor liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure. Transplantation, 70, 152–157.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • UNOS (2000). 1999 annual report of the U.S. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network: Transplant data 1989–1998. Rockville, MD and Richmond, VA: U.D. Department of Health and Human Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ware, J.E. (1993). SF-36 Health Survey: Manual and interpretation guide. Boston, MA: Nimrod Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. James R. Rodrigue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Valerie Bonk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shannon Jackson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA

    James R. Rodrigue

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rodrigue, J.R., Bonk, V., Jackson, S. (2001). Psychological Considerations of Living Organ Donation. In: Rodrigue, J.R. (eds) Biopsychosocial Perspectives on Transplantation. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1333-9_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1333-9_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5502-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1333-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation