The risk tolerance was high: Candidates expressed willingness to accept a risk of death of 90% (spouse), 75% (1st degree relative), 70% (In-law/step-relation), 50% (other relative or friend). "Almost all donor candidates report being willing to assume more risk than physicians would be comfortable in allowing them to assume.
However, these numbers come from individuals who generally are not used to sophisticated statistical thinking or often consider statistics to be irrelevant or not applicable to them personally. Unrelated donors appear to exhibit healthier behaviors and to have stronger histories of volunteerism than related donors, suggesting that related donors may come forward more from a sense of obligation, family loyalty, or even guilt and subtle coercion."
