Organ donation: a cultural and religious vision. The Barcelona project

Trust and credibility in donation is a key factor for the Spanish model. In 2018, we began in Barcelona the Barcelona Reflection Project: Organ Donation, a Cultural and Religious Perspective project as a multidisciplinary approach to discuss donation and transplantation concepts with religious leaders from Catalonia. The aim was to enhance understanding of religious and cultural aspects that could encourage dialogue and reduce refusal rates for donation. The project comprised seven activities: two open conferences and five closed seminars. Each workshop focused on a particular faith: Catholicism, non-Catholic Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and a mixture of Asian religions. In total, 70 religious or cultural leaders, 11 Transplant Coordinators, and 5 religious diversity experts participated. The workshops confirmed that none of the major religions opposes organ and tissue donation, but discussion of donation procedures and funeral aspects were not common within the communities and can influence donation acceptance by relatives. To improve public knowledge and facilitate community dialogue, we developed informative materials for donors and families, but also for health professionals. The Barcelona project facilitates an inclusive multidisciplinary forum for all religions, creating a shared space to exchange knowledge and foster productive dialogue and cooperation. The percentage of consent for organ donation in Catalonia over the past 10 years stands at 81.8% with statistically differences according to the origin and year.