Can someone who is identified as a potential donor match decline to donate?
Donating marrow or PBSC is a serious commitment. Sometimes a potential donor who is successfully matched with a patient may decide not to go forward with the procedure. There are many reasons for saying no, including illness, amount of time involved, the risk, or even fear of the donation process. As a volunteer, the donor is under no form of legal obligation. Individual decisions are always respected. However, a last minute change of mind may be fatal to the patient awaiting the transplant. But most people decide to go ahead with the procedure once they balance all the facts and consider what their decision will mean to themselves and the recipient.
