SECTION III
THE DECISION TO DONATE
TABLE 9
Thinking About Your Own Death Makes You Uncomfortable
% Strongly % Disagree/%
Agree/ Strongly Don't Mean
Agree Disagree Know Score*
Total (n=6,127) 36% 58% 6% 2.31
Gender
Male (n=2,589) 34% 59% 7% 2.30
Female (n=3,538) 37 58 5 2.31
Age
18-24 (n=695) 47% 45% 8% 2.58
25-34 (n=1,442) 38 56 6 2.41
35-44 (n=1,465) 33 60 7 2.20
45-54 (n=889) 39 55 6 2.30
55+ (n=1,566) 31 65 4 2.21
Education
High school or less (n=2,377) 39% 56% 5% 2.35
Some college (n=1,763) 32 62 7 2.27
College Graduate (n=1,922) 31 60 8 2.21
Race/Ethnicity
White (n=4,816) 35% 59% 6% 2.30
Black (n=722) 38 59 3 2.37
Hispanic (n=741) 41 53 6 2.37
Support of Organ Donation
Support (n=5,247) 35% 58% 6% 2.30
Oppose (n=366) 32 64 5 2.24
* 4=strongly agree, 3=agree, 2=disagree, 1=strongly disagree
- More than one-third of Americans admit to some level of discomfort
surrounding thoughts of their own death. Generally, younger
respondents and those with less education appear less comfortable
with thoughts of their own death.
The Decision to Donate 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Have you made a personal decision about whether or not you would
want your (your family members') organs donated in the event of
your (their) death?"
TABLE 10
Percentage of Respondents Who Have Made a Personal Decision
Regarding Organ Donation
Percent Who Had Made Decision
Own Family
Organs Members' Organs
Total (n=6,127) 42% 25%
Gender
Male (n=2,589) 42% 22%
Female (n=3,538) 43 27
Age
18-24 (n=695) 40% 23%
25-34 (n=1,442) 43 26
35-44 (n=1,465) 49 32
45-54 (n=889) 46 33
55+ (n=1,566) 36 17
Education
High school or less (n=2,377) 34% 17%
Some college (n=1,763) 52 34
College graduate (n=1,922) 56 37
Race/Ethnicity
White (n=4,816) 45% 27%
Black (n=722) 21 12
Hispanic (n=741) 40 19
Support of Organ Donation
Support (n=5,247) 45% 27%
Oppose (n=366) 39 25
- Although a high percentage of Americans (85%) approve of organ
donation, less than half (42%) have themselves made a personal
decision about donation of their own organs. Even fewer (25%) have
made a decision about the donation of family members' organs.
Respondents who have made personal decisions regarding organ
donation of both their own and family members' organs tend to be
more highly educated. Black respondents are less likely to have made
a decision than are white or Hispanic respondents.
14 The Decision to Donate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Have you granted permission for organ donation on your driver's
license or on a signed donor card?"
(Those respondents who have not yet granted permission were then asked:)
"Would you be willing to sign a donor card giving permission for
YOUR organs to be donated upon your death?''
TABLE 11
Percentage of Respondents Who Have Or Would be Willing to Formally Grant
Permission for Organ Donation
% % Willing
Yes To do so*
Total (n=6,127) 28% 27%
Gender
Male (n=2,589) 29% 28%
Female (n=3,538) 27 26
Age
18-24 (n=695) 24% 27%
25-34 (n=1,442) 32 27
35-44 (n=1,465) 37 27
45-54 (n=889) 27 32
55+ (n=1,566) 21 24
Education
High school or less (n=2,377) 20% 26%
Some college (n=1,763) 36 30
College graduate (n=1,922) 41 27
Race/Ethnicity
White (n=4,816) 30% 28%
Black (n=722) 13 21
Hispanic (n=741) 28 21
Support for Organ Donation
Support (n=5,247) 32% 30%
Oppose (n=366) 4 4
* Calculation based on total sample
- More than half of Americans (55%) either have or are willing to
formally grant permission for the donation of their organs. However,
only slightly more than one-quarter (28%) have already done so.
- Black respondents are less likely to have signed (or to be willing
to sign) organ donor cards than are white or Hispanic respondents.
The Decision to Donate 15
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I am going to read you a couple of statements. For each one, please
tell me if that particular statement must be true or not true before an
individual can donate their organs."
TABLE 12
Perceptions of Truth/Falseness of Statements Regarding Organ Donation
(n=6,127)
% % % Don't
Statement True False Know
The person must carry a signed donor card
giving permission 79% 15% 5%
The person's next of kin must give their
permission 58 34 8
- The results of Table 12 suggest a significant level of
misinformation about the necessary "permission" currently required
for organ donation. Nearly four in five Americans incorrectly
believe a signed donor card is required prior to organ donation.
More than one-third (34%) fail to realize that surviving family
permission is required.
- More highly educated respondents were more likely to realize that
a signed donor card is not required for donation, but less likely to
realize that family permission is required.
16 The Decision to Donate
Next section
Return to survey index