Hostility toward caregivers as a selection criterion for transplantation

Area of Science:

• Transplant Surgery
• Psychology
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• Limited research exists on the impact of hostility in organ transplant candidates.
• Hostility, defined as threatening behaviors, may influence care or precipitate transplant need.
• Understanding transplant coordinators' views on hostility is crucial for recipient selection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if transplant coordinators consider hostility a criterion for accepting or rejecting organ transplant candidates.
• To explore ethical considerations in organ allocation and recipient selection regarding patient behavior.

Main Methods:

• A nonexperimental descriptive survey design was employed.
• The study targeted 559 organ transplant coordinators from the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization.

Main Results:

• A significant majority (62%) of surveyed coordinators felt hostile candidates should not receive organ transplants.
• The findings highlight a prevalent concern among coordinators regarding patient hostility.

Conclusions:

• Ethical principles are paramount in organ allocation and recipient selection due to organ scarcity.
• Further exploration into managing hostile and aggressive behaviors in transplant candidates is recommended.