Abstract

The largest minority group in the United States is the African American population, representing about 12 percent of the national population (Dept. of Health and Human Services [DHHS], 1985)Yet, this population represents more than thirty percent of the end stage renal disease patients (Lowrie& Hampers, 1981; Eggers et ai., 1984; Williams,1988). In 1988, the percentage of African Americans suffering from end stage renal disease had risen to 35.2%. At the end of 1995, of the 31149 persons awaking a renal transplant, 10808 (35.1%) were African American, 2845 (9.2%) Hispanic and 1127 (3.7%) Asian (OPTN/SR, 1996).

Keywords: Organ Donation, race, religions