Abstract
The decision to donation organs: Contextual variables and consequencies of the decision. A questionnaire was put to people who had to make a decision about donating or not donating dead relative's organs; the most important variables affecting the decision are a) in relation to donors: the expression of their will to donate whilst alive; b) in relation to decision-making bereaved relatives: education, concern about possible irregularities in the process of donation and the influence on the physical appearance of the body; c) in relation to the hospital unit where the donor was ill: the information given by doctors to the family, and d) in relation to the medical staff requesting the donation: the perception of the concept of "brain death" on the part of the decision maker and the positive influence of the medical staff requesting organ donation. Decision makers in favour of organ donation perceive a more favourable change in their social environment than non-donors, and the latter are more likely to be donors in the future. Awareness campaigns for improving attitudes towards donation should take these variables into account.
