Racial and ethnic preferences and perceptions in organ donations

This research paper explores how race and ethnicity play a role in organ donations. It discusses how different groups perceive organ donation, whether or not they are more likely to donate organs, and what factors influence their decisions.

There is a growing need for organ donors in the United States. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 120,000 people are currently on the national transplant waiting list (“Organ Donation by the Numbers”, 2018). And while there has been an overall increase in organ donors in recent years, the demand still far exceeds the supply. In 2017, there were over 35,000 organ transplants performed in the US using organs from nearly 17,000 donors (“Organ Donation by the Numbers”, 2018).

One of the challenges in increasing the number of organ donors is addressing the perceptions and beliefs that different racial and ethnic groups have about donation. There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about organ donation, and this can make people hesitant to sign up as donors. Additionally, different groups may be more or less likely to donate based on their cultural beliefs and values.

African Americans, for example, have historically been underrepresented as organ donors. One reason for this may be that there is a mistrust of the healthcare system among many black Americans. This mistrust is rooted in a long history of racism and discrimination in the healthcare system, from the Tuskegee syphilis experiments to the recent reports of doctors giving black patients less pain medication than white patients (Drayer, 2015). As a result, some black Americans may not want to donate their organs to a system that they believe does not value their lives.

There are also cultural factors that play a role in organ donation rates. Some religions, such as Islam and Judaism, prohibit or discourage organ donation (“Religious Views on Organ Donation”, 2016). This can make it difficult for people who adhere to these beliefs to sign up as donors.

Addressing the perceptions and beliefs that different groups have about organ donation is critical to increasing the number of donors. Education campaigns that dispel myths and provide accurate information about donation can help to increase understanding and acceptance of organ donation among all groups. Additionally, working with religious leaders to address any concerns or misconceptions about donation within their communities can also be helpful in getting more people to sign up as donors.