[Ethical and legal features of living donor kidney transplantation. Management and coordination of the process of living donation].
OBJECTIVE
Living donors for kidney transplantation have attracted interest from different points of view because medical issues are accompanied by other features involving ethical, legal and social issues. We analyze all aspects involved in living donation for kidney transplantation.


METHODS
We analyze: (1) ETHICAL ISSUES: requirements to become living donor, donor-receptor relationship, informed consent, donor's motivations, risk/benefit. (2) Legal issues: We review Spanish laws and Council of Europe's recommendations. (3) We also analyze how to coordinate the process in order to guarantee protection to donors.


CONCLUSIONS
Living donor kidney transplantation is a growing therapeutic option. The process of living donation should comply with several legal and ethical requirements, and cooperation between different professionals to guarantee protection to donors.
Perea
Milagrosa
M
Coordinación de Trasplantes Hospital Clínico Transplant Services Foundation, Barcelona, España. 31861mpg@comb.es
Vilardell
Jordi
J
Manyalich
Martí
M
D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013030:Spain; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*