Abstract

QUINTANA, Alberto Manuel  and  ARPINI, Dorian Mônica. Organ donation: possible elements of resistance and acceptance. Bol. psicol [online]. 2009, vol.59, n.130, pp.91-102. ISSN 0006-5943.

This article studies the representations on organ donation. An approach was made to the meaning attributed to organ donation by the layman (considered as such the participant who does not belong, neither by work, nor by having a degree, to the health area). A qualitative methodology was chosen, using as instruments semi-structured interviews and discussion groups. Thus 19 interviews and 5 discussion groups were conducted. The analysis of the material collected allowed to identify factors related to resisting to donation, such as: difficulty to accept death, mainly when the potential donor is a son or a daughter, identifying death as clinical death (cardio-respiratory collapse) and the desire to maintain the integrity of the deceased's body. Facilitating factors to the act of donating were: trustworthiness regarding the medical staff and, essentially, the deceased's express wish of being a donor.

Keywords : Directed tissue donation; Brain death; Death.

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