title: Donating a kidney to a family member. How primary care physicians can help prepare potential donors.
abstract: When a relative needs a kidney to survive, family members often impulsively offer to donate one without stopping to consider the physical, emotional, and financial ramifications, which can be considerable. The family's primary care physician can be very helpful in guiding and educating potential donors and, by arranging for screening to be done in the community, can ease the financial strain. The authors discuss the things a potential kidney donor should consider.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice, University of Kansas Medical Center School of Medicine.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: O'Dell
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: O'Dell
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Crouch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D000533:Altruism; D003376:Counseling; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010819:Physician's Role; D010821:Physicians, Family; D012307:Risk Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000523:psychology*