According to ScienceDaily, Relatives Who Decline Organ Donations Face Conflict and Guilt, sciencedaily.com, Jan. 18, 2008:

Family members are sometimes unable to carry out their relative’s wish to donate organs when they die, because of conflicting feelings between making a gift of life and protecting the body of the deceased, according to new research.***

Other factors included:

·         Circumstances at the time of death – people needed time to come to terms with the death of their relative, especially if their death was sudden or their body looked normal.

·         Lack of knowledge – some people said they did not have enough information about what organ donation involved.

·         The donation discussion – issues were raised around the timing and sensitivity of discussions between relatives and healthcare professionals.

·         Witnessing the observable ending of life – some people said they needed to be present when their relative’s heartbeat stopped. That could not always happen if their relative was a donor.