Brain donation for research: Strong support in Australia

Abstract

Permission by families for transplant donation has decreased in Australia. We do know that Australians are interested in donating organs. What has not been explored is how people feel about donating brain tissue for medical research. This study examines the verbal responses of the next of kin, on the day of autopsy of the deceased, to the question of brain donation for medical research. On the day of autopsy a telephone call was made to the next of kin. Families were asked to consider donating the brain tissue of the deceased to medical research. All responses were recorded. Fifty-eight per cent of families contacted by telephone gave permission for the brain donation. The main reasons given for donating the brain to research were wanting to help others, and the family knowing the deceased’s wishes. This is an excellent response from families and more encouraging than the literature would predict. Further education and awareness about brain donation is needed and may be achieved effectively by combining donation options with the Australian Organ Donor Register.