Before Consent. Living Donors and Gender Roles

Abstract

The article analyzes some data concerning gender differences in living organ donation, to argue in favor of a fair distribution of live donors. (1) Consent is a basic requirement in organ donation for transplants. However, reports about kidney transplants are very explicit, there is a gender imbalance. Live donation saves lives; it exemplifies altruism and real concern for others. But the answer to these messages seems different in women and men. (2) Gender issues have to be addressed, because social expectations could bear heavily on individual preferences, as the donors"™ distribution indicates. (3) How have unequal rates of living organ donation been approached? Could the actual imbalance be a question of communication, health or altruism? Recent donation campaigns and common ideas about health differences and attitudes could be examined from a gender point of view. (4) After exploring three arguments about the gender gap (communication, health, and altruism), the suggestion here is that the solution should not be discouraging potential female donors but encouraging a fair distribution of donors. (5) To conclude, gender perspective is pertinent to confront the imbalance in living donation, because social roles and conventional ideas about the "gift of life" usually precede individual consent.