Current status and issues of organ transplantation in Japan

: Since Organ Transplant Act was legislated and enforced in 1997, there reported to be 86 cases of organ donation from brain-dead donors, and 70 cases for heart transplantation, 67 for lung transplantation, 67 for liver transplantation, 64 for pancreas transplantation and 103 for kidney transplantation as of the end of May, 2010. The organ donation from brain-dead persons in Japan required the documented will of the deceased to accept brain death and to remove his/her organs for the purpose of transplantation, and the written consent of his/her family member to brain death diagnosis and organ donation. Furthermore enforcement regulations and related guideline too much restricted and limited the necessary conditions for the organ donation from brain-dead donors. In 2009, Organ Transplant Act was amended, and after related regulations and guideline were revised, amended Organ Transplant Act was enforced in 2010, which provide that organ removal from brain-dead persons for the purpose of transplantation requires the written consent of his/her family member to brain death diagnosis and organ donation in case that there is no reason to believe that the deceased indicated any objection, in life, to organ donation and brain death, or in case that the deceased expressed his/her will in writing during his/her lifetime. Although the increase in the number of organ donation would be expected, it is considered to be indispensable to enlighten the public upon organ donation/transplantation, encourage that in those understanding and to minimize any burdens on donor hospitals as far as possible.