Reclaiming their lives: the decision-making process in living liver donation - an interpretative phenomenological case study analysis of one couple

Adult-to-adult living liver donation (LLD) is a controversial procedure due to the risk to the healthy donor. The decision to proceed with LLD is an important, yet under-researched area. This study aims to explore the decision-making process of the donor and recipient independently, and within the donor-recipient dyad. The study design involved a longitudinal, qualitative analysis of the LLD decision from the perspective of a LLD donor-recipient dyad. In-depth interviews were conducted with the donor and recipient separately on three occasions: pre LLD, six weeks post and six months post LLD. Transcripts were subject to interpretative phenomenological analysis.