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Cultural Beliefs & Myths
You may have heard myths or rumors about living kidney donation or transplantation. Many people in the Hispanic/Latino community have concerns about living donation. Want to know more about cultural beliefs and myths? You’ve come to the right place.
- Learn what the myths are and how to correct misconceptions.
- Take a short quiz to see if you can spot the myths and the facts.
- Learn which religions support organ donation.
- Watch a video about religious views about organ donation.
- Watch a video of a doctor talking about the Hispanic/Latino community’s cultural beliefs and myths about living kidney donation and transplantation.
- Watch a telenovela about how a family decides whether the health risks of living kidney donation are worth taking.
Learn how some living donors addressed their own misconceptions.
Can you tell myths from facts?
Religion
Did you know that all major religions support organ donation?
- Catholicism
- Christianity
- Judaism
- Islam
In general, there has been broad support for organ donation among most faith communities. There may be differences of opinion within any particular religious group. Each decision to become a living or deceased donor is a personal one. Individuals should consult with their faith leader if they have questions about their faith’s view of organ donation.
Click here for more information on other religious perspectives.
Watch an interview with a priest about how the Catholic Church supports organ donation.
Hear from an expert
Listen to a transplant surgeon talk about what keeps many people from considering living donation.
Juan Carlos Caicedo, MD from Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Watch a Telenovela
Reference and Publication Information
Can I have children?
Ibrahim HN, Akkina SK, Leister E, Gillingham K, Cordner G, et al. Pregnancy outcomes after kidney donation. American Journal of Transplantation 2009;9:825–834.
Josephson MA. Transplantation: Pregnancy after kidney donation: more questions than answers. Nature Reviews: Nephrology 2009;5(9):495-7.
Reisaeter AV, Roislien J, Henriksen T, Irgens LM, Hartmann, A. Pregnancy and birth after kidney donation: The Norwegian experience. American Journal of Transplantation 2009;9:820–824 (2009).
Some medical/health information on this page may be offered by non-medical professionals or organizations.
Last Updated: 7/10/2015
