Page 36 - More than a match

RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL

BELIEFS ON ORGAN DONATION

s an African, I knew my ethnic group were reluctant donors,
Abut it was not until I came forward as a donor that I realised
the magnitude of the problem. The demand for donor kidneys

for transplants far outstrips the current national supply, but it is
a bigger problem for Black and Asian people living in the UK,
as they are three times more likely to develop diabetes and high
blood pressure than white people, which can lead to the need for a
transplant. I conducted my own research using friends and family
who were African, Asian, Caribbean, religious and non-religious,
with the aim of finding out what influenced their attitude towards

organ donation. There are a variety of reasons why Black and
Asian people were reluctant donors; fear and the thought of dying
during such a major operation stopped a lot of people. For some,
it was not a subject they even considered, and others felt the risks
were too high. But religion and culture seemed to be the two major
obstacles that prevented people from donating. Some questioned
whether it was acceptable for their religion to donate; others felt
it was acceptable, but that there were still some grey areas. My
Muslim friends said living kidney donation was permissible in

their religion. A friend said he would be willing to donate but

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