This article summarizes issues related to the need to encourage organ donation among African American and Hispanic populations.

The authors state that the largest barrier to patients’ receipt of life-saving transplants is lack of a sufficient donor population. This is partially due to improvements in public health measures that have reduced the donor pool (which consists of persons meeting the classification of “brain death”). Thus regulations have been put in place that require clinicians to report deaths that lead to potential donors and to discuss donation with the family members. Organ donation is reliant on volunteerism, and, even though an individual’s preferences are the only legal criteria, clinicians generally also request their family’s consent.

Barriers to donation are outlined, which typically include religious and cultural objections. Barriers specific to the African American and Hispanic American populations are mentioned, and mechanisms for removing these barriers are suggested. The value of educational materials, particularly regarding the extent to which organ donation can benefit other minority-group patients, is emphasized. Additionally, because nurses have the most intimate contact with patients and their families, a good target for educational intervention is the nursing staff. Nursing staff might benefit from training in encouraging donation and educating patients from minority groups about donation.