The Psychosocial Impact of Withdrawing from Living Kidney Donation

AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe summarized data on the experience of people who withdraw from living kidney donation for non-medical reasons and suggest transplant centers strategies to enhance support for this population.Recent FindingsReported rates of opting out vary widely, from 0.2 to 22%. Individuals often describe more than one factor that contributed to their decision not to donate. Limited data suggests that most who withdraw from donation do not experience a long-term negative impact on their relationship with their intended recipient. For a minority, however, the decision to opt out may occasionally strain relationships and create significant emotional distress. Non-specific statements of ineligibility to donate may alleviate these complications, but they are rarely used.SummaryThe psychosocial impact of opting out of donation is complex and merits further research.
Source: Current Transplantation Reports - Category: Transplant Surgery Source Type: research