[Public opinion and transplantation: results of a survey]

General information on organ transplant is generally lacking and the issue very often arouses feelings of fear and suspicion. Aim of the survey was to assess the level of information of general population on legal, ethical aspects and other topics related to organ donation and transplant. A questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 700 inhabitants of Gallarate (MI). The open and closed questions explored areas such as the organ donation from a living person, xenotransplants, the role of media. 520 questionnaires (74.3%) were returned. There is a positive attitude toward organ donation but the specific knowledge of the large majority of people is very rough and superficial: for instance, only 36% of respondents knew the difference between organ donation from a living person and a corpse. The lack of correct information was considered the main reason (66%) for the insufficient number of organ donations.