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Published on: April 17, 2020
Do people accept brain death as death? A study in Brazil
Chiara Scaglioni Tessmer1, André Rodrigues da Silva, Franklin Correa Barcellos
1Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil.
Progress in Transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)
|May 9, 2007
Summary
Public understanding of brain death significantly impacts organ donation consent. Using the term "brain death" decreased willingness to donate organs by 20%, highlighting a need for public education.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Public Health
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Brain death is a legally accepted criterion for death, yet public understanding and acceptance remain under-researched.
- Limited data exists on public attitudes towards brain death and its implications for organ donation decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess public comprehension of brain death.
- To investigate the influence of the term 'brain death' on decisions regarding organ donation.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Pelotas, Brazil.
- A structured questionnaire administered through individual interviews with 3159 participants aged 20+.
- Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed.
Main Results:
- 80.1% of participants would consent to organ donation if the deceased had previously agreed.
- Willingness to consent decreased to 63% when the term 'brain death' was used.
- When the topic of organ donation was not previously discussed, only one-third of participants agreed to donation.
Conclusions:
- Substitution of 'death' with 'brain death' reduced organ donation consent by 20%, indicating potential misunderstanding or non-acceptance of the term.
- Enhancing public comprehension of brain death through educational strategies is crucial for increasing organ donation rates, particularly in developing nations.
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