Understanding Transplant Professionals’ Attitudes Toward Organ Donation by Incarcerated Individuals: A First Look

The practice of permitting incarcerated individuals to become living organ donors in exchange for commuted sentences has been posed as a solution to the persistent organ shortage in recent legislation. We conducted a survey to assess transplant professionals’ attitudes toward organ donation by incarcerated individuals. A 12-item survey was developed and emailed to transplant professionals from 3/15/23 − 4/12/23. We calculated descriptive statistics overall and by surgeons vs. non-surgeons and geographic region. Of the 294 respondents, 80% indicated that incarcerated individuals should be allowed to participate in directed solid organ living donation and 55% indicated that incarcerated individuals should be allowed to participate in non-directed solid organ living donation. Among respondents who supported donation, 70% indicated that they would not support donation in exchange for a commuted sentence, citing ethical concerns related to coercion (27%) and legality (22%). Although the majority of respondents in our sample supported directed donor organ donation, most opposed allowing donations in return for commuted sentences. These results can be used to inform future legislation surrounding organ donation in the carceral system.