[Consent for organ transplantation]

When patients are trying to decide whether to consent to organ transplantation or refuse treatment, respect for their legal rights is the minimum ethical consideration. Their decision must be a fully informed one. This article focuses on the differences between nurses' and physicians' perceptions of the patient's decision to undergo transplant surgery. The research is based on a survey of eight transplant teams in the province of Quebec. Eight physicians and eight nurses answered a questionnaire and participated in semi-structured interviews. The data obtained was then compared and interpreted using two action theories developed by Kohlberg and Gilligan. This approach enabled the authors to clarify various concepts relating to fairness, as interpreted by the two professional perspectives. The results underline that nurses view things differently than physicians. Their professional approach is based mainly on psychosocial criteria to ensure an adequate response to the expressed or stated needs of the patient. The fact that they do not make decisions regarding the cure sets them apart from physicians, who believe they are offering the best solution to a patient's problem, while respecting the patient's right to informed consent.