AUTHOR: Gurch Randhawa, Anna Brocklehurst, Ruth Pateman, Suzannah Kinsella, Vivienne Parry
KEYWORDS: Faith, religion, organ donation
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 Cultural Working Group of 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.
For many faiths the one-to-one interviews, which were conducted at times and in places convenient to them, were the first opportunity that they had had to engage with the issue of organ donation. All interviewees valued the importance of organ
donation as an issue that needs to be acknowledged and debated within their faith communities. Faith leaders highlighted that there is a need for engagement at local levels in particular, and the route to these communities is often, although not
exclusively, via the organisations represented within this study. It is important to note that there are likely resource implications for building upon this national dialogue and ensuring a sustainable ‘conversation and debate’ at local level.
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.
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