title: The experiences, motivations, and opinions of New Zealand's live liver donors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the motivations and experiences of New Zealand's live liver donors, and their opinions on New Zealand's current organ donation system.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous questionnaire was sent to all 45 of New Zealand's live liver donors in November 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  21 responses were collated with an even gender split. Half of the participants were parents of the recipient. Despite the risks of surgery and associated post-surgical pain, all participants were satisfied by how the transplant went for the recipient and for themselves. 90% thought people should save lives if they can, with 18 (86%) disagreeing with New Zealand's current method of allowing family members to veto the deceased person's wishes on organ donation (on their driver's license). 95% thought that education was important in encouraging people to donate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This unique and informed group have experienced both what it means to have a loved one waiting for a transplant and how it feels to be an organ donor. If New Zealand is serious about wanting to increase deceased organ donation rates, we should consider the experiences such as those who have undergone live donation.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gavin
authors.forename: Phillipa J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Malpas
authors.affiliation: New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit, Auckland Hospital. adamb@adhb.govt.nz.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartlett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009520:New Zealand; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000523:psychology*