Public Perceptions of Organ Transplant Deservingness: Influence of Cause and Recipient Identity.

In the United States, the demand for organ transplants far exceeds the available supply. Every eight minutes, a new individual is added to the transplant waiting list, and daily, 17 people die awaiting a transplant. Despite streamlined registration processes—such as online sign-ups during driver's license renewals and dedicated apps for iPhone users—the gap between need and availability persists.

Amid this pressing issue, researchers Simon F. Haeder, Ph.D., from Texas A&M University School of Public Health, and a colleague from Utah Valley University conducted a study to explore whether public perceptions of transplant deservingness are influenced by the reasons behind organ failure and the recipient's race or ethnicity. Their findings were published in Social Science Quarterly.

Study Design and Methodology:

Between March 18 and April 18, 2022, the researchers surveyed 4,177 adult U.S. citizens. Participants were presented with four distinct scenarios, each depicting an individual requiring an organ transplant due to different circumstances:

A genetic condition leading to kidney failure.Black lung disease resulting from lifelong coal mining work.lung disease resulting from lifelong coal mining work.Severe COVID-19 illness in an unvaccinated individual necessitating a lung transplant.

Liver failure due to alcohol use disorder:

To assess potential biases related to race and ethnicity, each scenario featured names indicative of specific racial or ethnic backgrounds: Ronny Nielsen (white), DeShawn Washington (Black), Luis Hernandez (Hispanic), and Yang Chen (Asian). These names were pre-tested in prior research to ensure recognizability.

Participants rated each individual's eligibility for a transplant on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from "definitely yes" to "definitely not." Additionally, respondents provided information about their political ideologies and levels of racial resentment.

Key Findings:

The study revealed that public perceptions of transplant deservingness are significantly influenced by the cause of organ failure:The study revealed that public perceptions of transplant deservingness are significantly influenced by the cause of organ failure:The individual with black lung disease received the highest support for transplant eligibility.

This was followed by the individual with a genetic kidney condition:

The unvaccinated COVID-19 patient and the person with alcohol use disorder received less support, with the latter viewed as least deserving.

Notably, the recipient's race or ethnicity did not significantly impact perceptions of deservingness. In instances where differences emerged, they slightly favored racial and ethnic minorities.

Political ideology and racial resentment levels also played roles in shaping perceptions:

Liberals and individuals with low racial resentment showed minimal differences in their assessments of the unvaccinated COVID-19 patient and the person with alcohol use disorder.Conversely, conservatives and those with high racial resentment rated the individual with alcohol use disorder as less deserving.

Implications and Ethical Considerations:

The findings highlight a persistent stigma associated with conditions perceived as self-inflicted, such as alcohol use disorder, despite its recognition as a disease. This stigma influences public judgments about who deserves life-saving medical interventions.

Dr. Haeder emphasized the ethical dilemma posed by these perceptions:

"The larger question here is whether and how public attitudes should be included in transplant allocations. On the one hand, better aligning allocation decisions with public opinion might lead more people to become donors, but on the other hand, the scarcity of organs means that rules for their use are critically important."

As the organ shortage crisis continues, understanding public attitudes toward transplant eligibility can inform policies and outreach programs aimed at increasing donor registrations and ensuring equitable allocation of organs.

Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-perceptions-deservingness-based-transplant-recipients.html#google_vignette

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.