` Psychosocial evaluation of living unrelated kidney donors in the United States: Summary of guidelines from a consensus conference

A recent consensus conference held in the United States led to the publication of guidelines for the psychosocial evaluation of prospective kidney donors who have neither a biologic nor longstanding emotional relationship with the transplant candidate (1). The present report describes the process by which the guidelines were developed and summarizes the guidelines themselves. Specifically, the meeting deliberations resulted in a series of recommendations pertaining to risk assessment in prospective unrelated donors and to the process and content of the psychosocial evaluation of these individuals. Additional recommendations concerned the informed consent process, and the nature of post-donation psychosocial follow-up with unrelated donors. The goal of these recommendations is to maximize the safety and wellbeing of unrelated donor candidates as well as those who go on to donate.