Attitudes toward posthumous harvesting and reproduction

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17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Attitudes toward posthumous harvesting of reproductive material and beliefs about medical professionals' obligation to assist were examined using a multiple segment factorial vignette survey design with 407 randomly selected respondents from a southern state. Attitudes and beliefs were primarily shaped by the vignette couple's marital status, parental support, and evidence of the deceased's wishes, as well as by respondents' religiosity and level of education. Three primary groups of respondents were identified: libertarians emphasized the survivor's rights, consentualists were skeptical until hearing that the deceased approved of the procedure, and persistent dissenters retained their negative attitudes despite the deceased's known wishes in favor of posthumous harvesting. Overall, attitudes and obligation beliefs were primarily in favor of posthumous harvesting when contextual circumstances deemed suitable were portrayed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)837-869
Number of pages33
JournalDeath Studies
Volume32
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Clinical Psychology

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