A bridge between hearts: mutual organ donation by Arabs and Jews in Israel

The availability of organ transplants depends largely on the will of the donor families. Given the current state of affairs in Israel, the authors evaluated the stance of Jews and Arabs toward mutual organ donations.

Between October 1997 and December 1999, there were 4.8 million Jews and 1.09 million Arabs living in Israel. Data gathered from 22 general hospitals for this period yielded 373 potential organ donors and 171 families (45.8%) that consented to the procedure. Actual donation was obtained from 157 patients. The authors examined the characteristics of the potential organ donors and organ recipients and the reasons (religious and nonreligious) for familial consent or refusal. Donation made since onset of the Intifada (armed Palestinian resistance) was also reviewed to determine whether any changes took place.

Consent was obtained from 48.9% of the Jewish families approached, 30.7% of the Muslim Arabs, and 66.6% of the Christian Arabs. For the whole sample, altruism was the main reason for consenting. The percentages of Arabs and Jews (per population) on the waiting list for a heart (Jews, 90%; Arabs, 10%) or liver (Jews, 78.66%; Arabs, 21.34%) and who received a heart (Jews, 90%; Arabs, 10%) or liver (Jews, 78.36%; Arabs, 21.64%) were similar. There were relatively more Arab recipients of kidney transplants (waiting list, 11%; recipients, 18.6%) because of the higher percentage of children in the Arab group who were given priority. Since September 2000 (start of the Intifada), there has been a trend toward an increasing rate of refusal to donate among Arabs (consent obtained in 52.9% of Jewish families approached vs. 27.9% of the Muslim Arabs), mainly because of fear of rejection by the community for cooperating with Jews.

The rate of organ donations among Arabs and Jews in Israel is proportional to their representation in the general population. The main reason for donating organs is altruism. Apparently, altruism cuts across the boundaries of religion and ethnic groups, even in a country where conflict prevails. We trust that progress in the international arena will bring the current cycle of violence to an end and allow humanitarian values to take preference over politics.