Organ donation refusal rates in Brazil reach 45%

In Brazil, the average family refusal rate for organ donation is approximately 45%. Experts suggest that this high rate is often driven by institutional failures in communication rather than a lack of willingness from the deceased or their relatives.

Cristiano Franke, president of the Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira (AMIB), noted that medical teams sometimes struggle to handle difficult conversations, often using overly technical language or adopting approaches perceived as cold. To address this, AMIB and the Ministry of Health launched a training program that has already surpassed its initial goal, training 2,534 health professionals to improve the donation and transplant process through better family engagement.

Medical professionals, including transplant specialist Michelli Daltro, emphasize the importance of the rigorous brain death protocol, which requires two qualified doctors and complementary exams to ensure accuracy. Experts stress that because family authorization is required, individuals should discuss their wishes with their relatives to prevent misinformation and fear from hindering the donation process.