What Do People in China Think About Organ Donation?

Researchers in China recently asked hundreds of people how they feel about donating their organs after they die. The study took place between November 2024 and April 2025. Scientists wanted to know what makes someone more likely to say yes to organ donation — and what people think is the fairest way to decide who gets a donated organ. The answers could help doctors, leaders, and health workers build a better system for saving lives.

Organ donation happens when a person allows their organs — like their heart, kidneys, or lungs — to be given to someone else after they die. In China, there is a growing need for donated organs because many sick people are waiting for transplants. A transplant is a surgery where a person receives a new organ to replace one that no longer works. Researchers wanted to find out how the public feels about this topic so that more people might choose to donate.

The research team used an online survey to collect information. They shared the survey link through social media, especially through an app called WeChat. People who took the survey also shared it with their friends and family, which helped spread it further. A total of 1,106 people started the survey, but after removing answers that seemed careless or inattentive, 895 responses were kept and used in the study.

Scientists found that a person's attitude and knowledge about organ donation made a big difference. People who knew more about donation and felt more positive about it were more likely to say they would donate. Knowing someone who had already donated an organ also made people more open to donating themselves. These findings show that sharing information and real stories could encourage more people to sign up as donors.

The study also looked at what people think is fair when deciding who gets a donated organ. For example, should organs go to the sickest person first, or to someone who has waited the longest? The survey asked people to rate how fair each idea seemed. Understanding public opinion helps leaders create rules that people will trust and support.

The researchers made sure the study was done in an ethical way, which means they followed rules to protect participants. No one was paid to take the survey, and everyone joined by their own choice. Names and personal details were never collected, keeping everyone's privacy safe. The study was approved by an ethics committee — a group of experts who make sure research is fair and safe for everyone.