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Religion and organ donation: the views of UK faith leaders

  • Gurch Randhawa
    ,
  • Anna Brocklehurst
    ,
  • Ruth Pateman
    ,
  • Suzannah Kinsella
    ,
  • Vivienne Parry
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Abstract

This article reports the findings from the one-to-one interviews with the main UK faith and belief leaders which were commissioned by the Organ Donation Taskforce as part of its evidence gathering. Interviews were arranged with the main faith and belief organisations within the UK. Interviews covered a range of issues related to organ donation. Although some faith groups had some reservations regarding organ donation, interviews with these leaders demonstrated that none of these faith groups have reached a consensus against organ donation. The interviewees stated that the majority opinion in their faith or belief group is to permit organ donation, with some actively supporting it. Interviewees were keen to stress that there is a broad spectrum of opinion on organ transplantation within each faith and belief group and that consequently it is difficult to speak on behalf of an entire group. One complication mentioned by interviewees is that as organ transplantation is a relatively new medical procedure, there is no explicit reference to it in many original religious texts. Consequently, positions on the receipt and donation of organs are based on interpretation. It was felt that a much greater level of engagement is needed, as organ donation is currently not a priority for many faith and belief groups.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 743-751

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Journal of Religion and Health (Volume 51, Issue 3)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 09/07/2010

Publication status

Published - 09/07/2010

ISSN

0022-4197

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/237500
  • Scopus: 84866489812

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