Purpose of the study: To answer the question: "Why are only 3.8% of kidney transplantations in Poland from living donors?"
Material and methods: The research was conducted using data from anonymous polls addressed to family members of dialyzed patients (potential donors).
Results: Almost everybody (98%) had heard about the possibility of treating renal insufficiency by kidney transplantation, but only 77% knew about the possibility of giving their own kidney to a related person. Merely 36% had been informed about this treatment method by a doctor. The most common fears within respondents were those of: health worsening after donating a kidney--45%, and the operation itself (taking an organ)--39%.