Between 2024 and 2025, the Campinas region in São Paulo reported an increase in family refusals for organ donation, escalating from 94 to 106 recorded cases. Concurrently, as of February this year, there are at least 2,000 individuals waiting for transplants in the region. This trend is reflected at the state level as well, where family refusals rose from 742 to 748 during the same timeframe. The state's waiting list for transplants has now reached a total of 27,800 patients in 2025, indicating an 11.5% increase compared to the previous year.

Medical professionals are seeking to understand the reasons behind this rising trend in refusals. According to the coordinator of the Hepatic Transplant Service at Unicamp and vice president of the Brazilian Association of Organ Transplantation, several factors could be contributing to the increase in family rejections. Among the explanations is the deep impact of grief, which varies significantly among individuals, making it an essential consideration. Additionally, a notable factor appears to be the proliferation of misinformation surrounding organ donation, which can deter families from consent, pointing towards a need for increased public education and accurate communication about organ transplantation processes.

As the waiting lists for transplants continue to grow, addressing the rising number of family refusals is crucial to improving organ donation rates. With thousands waiting for life-saving procedures, healthcare officials emphasize the importance of fostering trust in the organ donation process to ensure more families feel confident in making that decision. This situation calls for a multi-faceted approach that includes not only tackling misinformation but also supporting families through their grief to encourage more positive decisions regarding organ donation.