title: Canadian Society of Transplantation Members' Views on Anonymity in Organ Donation and Transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anonymity has been central to medical, psychosocial, and societal practices in organ donation and transplantation. The purpose of this investigation was to explore transplant professionals' views on anonymity in the context of organ transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of an electronic 18-item survey distributed to the Canadian Society of Transplantation membership, asking about anonymity vs open communication/contact between organ recipients and donor families.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 541 members surveyed, 106 replied. Among respondents, 71% felt that organ recipients and donor families should only communicate anonymously, yet 47% felt that identifying information could be included in correspondence between consenting recipients and donor families. When asked whether organ recipients and donor families should be allowed to meet, 53% of respondents agreed, 27% disagreed, and 20% neither agreed nor disagreed. With social media facilitating communication and eliminating the ability to maintain donor/recipient anonymity, 38% of respondents felt that a reexamination of current policies and practices pertaining to anonymity was necessary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, there was no dominant position on the issue of anonymity/communication between donor families and transplant recipients. Further research and discussion concerning the views of healthcare professionals, organ recipients, and donor families on the mandate of anonymity is needed and may influence future policy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology and Transplantation, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gewarges
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Faculty of Community Services, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology and Transplantation, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: Tema Genus, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shildrick
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abbey
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology and Transplantation, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mauthner
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology and Transplantation, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: Heather.ross@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D003219:Confidentiality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012955:Societies, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D055815:Young Adult