Ethical implications of searching for a kidney donor online

Abstract

AbstractThis paper describes an exploratory study investigating the ethical implications of searching for a kidney donor online. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with eight individuals – four people who found a kidney donor online and four people who were still searching – about the process of looking for an altruistic kidney donor on the Internet. To explore ethical issues discussed by participants, the interviews were coded using the resource‐product‐target model of information ethics. All three types of moral issues outlined in this model were present in the data. When viewing information as a resource, participants discussed their choice to go online to find a donor, the process of encouraging others to share their solicitation message, and ways of handling requests for payment in exchange for a donation. In the information‐as‐product perspective, people discussed the management of their online persona. Finally, the ramifications of patients and caregivers choosing to share personal health information online was discussed when participants considered information as a target. Several fruitful areas for future research are identified in this study, which is the first qualitative study investigating the phenomenon of searching for a kidney donor online – an area of great interest to information scientists, healthcare providers, medical ethicists, and chronic kidney disease patients.