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Deciding on cadaveric organ donation in Black African families
Author(s) -
Kometsi K,
Louw J
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-0012.1999.130606.x
Subject(s) - medicine , organ donation , grief , donation , cadaveric spasm , family medicine , transplantation , brain dead , black african , surgery , psychiatry , ethnology , law , political science , history
This study explores factors that have affected the decision of Black African families to donate cadaveric organs. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with ten families living in greater Cape Town, South Africa. Addresses were obtained from records of the transplant co‐ordinators at Groote Schuur Hospital. The data were analysed according to broad themes emerging from the interviews. The most important themes were the influence of violent, criminal deaths; the need for a longer period of consultation among family members; belief in the integrity of the ancestor's body; lack of understanding of brain death; and experiences of grief and loss.