Japan: 1,000 organ donations in 26 years

SGGPO 10/29/2023 1:50 PM

Although the number of organ donations from brain-dead people has recently increased, less than 3% of patients needing organ transplants receive an organ for surgery due to a severe shortage of donors.

Organ donation cards are distributed free of charge at medical facilities in Japan. Photo: YOMIURI SHIMBUN

Japanese media cited data from the Japanese Organ Transplant Network as saying that since the organ donation law officially took effect in 1997, Japan has just recorded its 1,000th organ donation from a brain-dead person. According to Jiji Press, the 1,000th donor was a man in his 60s in western Japan. After he was declared brain-dead according to the law, doctors transplanted his heart, lungs, liver and kidneys to patients in need of organ transplants.

In Japan, the first organ transplant from a legally brain-dead person was performed in 1999. However, the number of organ donations per year ranged from only 3 to 13 from 1999 to 2009, as this required a written declaration from the donor himself. The law requires donors to prove that they wish to become organ donors while they are still alive.

However, the 2010 amendment to the law allowed organ donation to be carried out with the consent of a family member of the donor, and also allowed organ donation from children under the age of 15. In 2010, thanks to the amendment, the number of organ donors increased to 32 and reached a record high of 97 in 2019.

Although the number of organ donations from brain-dead people has recently increased, less than 3% of patients needing organ transplants receive an organ for surgery due to a severe shortage of donors.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nhat-ban-1000-ca-hien-tang-trong-26-nam-post711893.html