PSYCHOLOGICAL-ASPECTS OF ORGAN DONATION - A CRITICAL-REVIEW AND SYNTHESIS OF INDIVIDUAL AND NEXT-OF-KIN DONATION DECISIONS

This article presents a critical review of psychological perspectives on organ donation. The review considers individual decisions to donate organs posthumously and next-of-kin consent decisions. A theoretical analysis of intention to donate is presented for both types of donatio n decisions, and the literature is reviewed within the context of the proposed framework. Donation decisions are examined as a function of a ttitude toward donation and the religious, cultural, altruistic, norma tive, and knowledge-based beliefs that comprise the attitude. Consent decisions are primarily influenced by prior knowledge of the deceased individual's wishes. An alternative conceptual model is offered to exp lain the basis of consent decisions in the absence of this knowledge. Suggestions are offered to improve measurement strategy and to guide t heoretically based organ donation research within selected disciplines of psychology.