Beyond "altruism motivates body donation". Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Farsides, Tom; Smith, Claire F.; Sparks, Paul
• Is Part Of: Death studies. Volume 47:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 56
• Page End: 64
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Death -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Terminal care -- Periodicals; Death -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Periodicals; 306.9
• DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2021.2006827
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0748-1187

Abstract

Abstract: Altruism is consistently identified as the dominant motive for body donation. Over 12 months, 843 people who requested body donation information packs also completed research questionnaires that included open-ended questions about their motives. Abductive analysis suggested two distinct sets of altruistic motives: those seeking benefits for medical professionals and patient groups (" medical altruism ") and those seeking benefits for friends and family (" intimate altruism "). Either could facilitate or impede body donation. Altruism may not be best understood as a unitary motive invariably promoting body donation. Rather, it is a characteristic of various motives, each of which seek benefits for specific beneficiaries.