Organ donation knows no race or gender, but African Americans are still apprehensive about donating or receiving donor organs or tissue. Taboos and miseducation have decreased the number of donors all while the need for organs and tissue in the Black community rises.
February 14 is not just a day of hearts, flowers and love, but also commemorates National Donor Day. In 2020, African Americans represented just over 21 percent of all organ recipients across the country but represents under seven percent of donors. With 28 percent of African Americans awaiting an organ, the need becomes critical for more Black donors to enter the arena.
Black communities are predisposed to a litany of illnesses. With hypertension and diabetes running rampant, many African Americans find themselves on the donor list for organs including kidneys.
“As a result of the persons that are waiting, over 100,000 … waiting for transplants, about 60 percent of them are from multicultural communities, or minority communities. Of those, about 35 to 37 percent are African Americans that are awaiting kidney transplants,” said Remonia Chapman, director for public education and community relations for Gift of Life and director of Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP).
Although an increasing number of African Americans are in need of an organ or tissue donation, mistrust in the health community continues to deter many from receiving the help they need. The development of MOTTEP came as a way to spread knowledge in an effort to meet the needs of recipients and increase the number of minority donors as well as curb taboos surrounding donations.
“African Americans have cited medical fear, organ harvesting, financial excess of recipients and quality of life for donors as reasons to not donate organs. Yet, for Gift of Life, the need versus receipt of organ and tissue comes down to one key element; education,” said Chapman. “We also found that the major reason is because people had not gone into our communities and talked to us about the importance of organ donation — had not tied the message of hypertension and diabetes to early-stage kidney failure.”
Kerisma Reed was facing organ donation to help save the life of a relative. Although critics can deter decisions, Reed remained private and took the beginning steps to becoming an organ donor.
“I don’t think it was much of a decision honestly. My brother is extremely important to me and if I could help him, it was a no-brainer. I am terrified of surgery but not as much as losing him. Luckily, he was able to get on a list in Wisconsin and when we got the call, we hopped up and got them there in my car,” said Reed. “It was crazy but he is here and that is all that matters. No one really knew about me starting the process, so no criticism.”
Organ donation is and has remained a taboo topic for African Americans. Fears surrounding organ harvesting remain one of the top reasons for that fear. Donors or potential donors such as Reed help to calm doubts and spread awareness on the importance and safety of organ and tissue donations.
“Having those people who are donor family members or recipients share their testimony [is important] because people want to see that people who look like them are also getting organ transplants. They want to see their families are giving and they want to hear those personal testimonies,” said Chapman.
For those looking to become organ donors hesitancy is present in declaring the choice on drivers’ licenses.
“Funny thing is, I plan to donate my organs when I pass away but I won’t list that on my license. I think some of us are painfully aware that our lives aren’t viewed as important as our white counterparts thus creating a fear that we would be seen only as a body of parts in an emergency situation. I don’t think they would fight as hard for my life knowing my organs could be used for someone else,” said Reed. “Also, Black people don’t have a great relationship with those in the medical field. Our concerns and diagnosis are often overlooked. I can’t tell you how many times my friends and I discuss biased treatment from doctors.”
Despite mistrust, African American physicians and scientists have made sizable contributions to organ and tissue donation procedures. To commemorate Black History Month, Gift of Life Michigan will highlight notable African Americans who have paved the way and made their mark in the world of organ and tissue donation.
“We will highlight someone like Dr. Clive Callender who is the founder of National MOTTEP, which was the first national program to address the needs of organ and tissue donation in minority communities. We will highlight someone like Dr. Velma Scantlebury who is the first African American female to be a transplant surgeon,” said Chapman.
In an effort to spread awareness about the need for organ and tissue donors, continued conversation and education is needed. Organ donors are encouraged to have open dialogue and discuss advance directives for end of life.
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