Opting Out: Confidentiality & Alibis for Living Kidney Donors

[Clark]

http://www.atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/opting-out-confidentiality-alibis-for-living-kidney-donors/

Opting Out: Confidentiality & Alibis for Living Kidney Donors
C. Thiessen, Y. Kim, R. Formica, M. Bia, S. Kulkarni

Background

An individual who withdraws from evaluation as a candidate living kidney donor (CD) may be uncomfortable informing the intended recipient (IR). To protect CD autonomy and relationships, the Live Organ Donor Consensus Group states that transplant teams may offer CDs a non-falsified “medical disclaimer” or “medical alibi.” We examined centers’ practices regarding opt-out confidentiality and alibis.

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Conclusions

While most sites state that CDs can opt out any time, CDs would benefit from greater clarity about what information will be shared with the IR after withdrawal. Relatively few centers offer alibis to opted-out donors. In contrast to the consensus group allowance of “medical” alibis, “non-specific” alibis are more common. We support this shift, which eliminates concerns about deception. Further work should explore if increased alibi use would encourage more individuals to undergo living donor evaluation.