Organ Transplantation - the Gift of Life

Organ Transplantation

is the only fundamental and radical treatment for patients with end-stage diseases of vital organs, which cannot be replaced by any other therapeutic modalities. Many patients die while waiting for such vital, life-saving organs to become available in Japan.

The Law Concerning Human Organ Transplants

was enforced in Japan on October 16, 1997, legalizing the transplantation of heart, lung, liver, pancreas, kidney and intestine from brain-dead donors.
On July17, 2010, the revised Organ Transplant Act went into full effect, under which rules regarding organ donation after brain death were eased.

Brain Death

is designated in Japan as the irreversible functional loss of the entire brain, including the brain stem. The heart beat can be sustained temporarily with the support of a mechanical ventilator, but will eventually stop (in most cases, a few days). Brain death is estimated less than 1% of all deaths.

Organ Donation

from a brain dead donor, under Japanese Law, was permitted only when he/she (15 years old and over) had a documented will both to accept the brain death diagnosis and to donate his/her organs for organ transplantation, and also his/her family did not refuse either of them.
However, after July 17, 2010, even if an individual's intention is unclear, it has become possible to donate his/her organs under family consent. Children under the age of 15 can also donate their organs after brain death.

Kidneys, Corneas and Pancreas

can be donated from non-heart beating cadavers, diagnosed based on the triad of the Japanese conventional death criteria (cardiac standstill, pulmonary arrest, and dilated pupils without light reflex), the former two organs irrespective of the existence of the documented will, the latter needs the documented will mandatorily.

The Procedures Concerning Organ Donation

will take several hours. There will be no additional costs associated with organ donation, and no payment will be made for the organs.

If you want the English Organ Donation Decision Card(s),

You can download English card here.
The content of Organ Donation Intention Declaration Card, or Organ Donor Card, was changed in July 2010. Although the previous card is valid, try and replace it with a new card as much as possible.

How to fill out your Organ Donation Decision Card

Step 1: Select your intention
Circle just one number that matches your intention.
(a)Circle 1 if you wish to donate your organs, either after brain death, or after cardiac death.
(b)Circle 2 if you do not want to donate organs after brain death but wish to do so after cardiac death. (In this case, you will not undergo legally-stipulated brain death diagnosis.)
(c)Circle 3 if you do not want to donate organs. (Go to Step 4.)

Step 2: Select any organ you do not want to donate.
If you chose 1 or 2, and have an organ you do not wish to donate, place an X over the organ.
The organs you may donate include the following in each of the two cases:
After brain death: Heart, Lung, Liver, Kidney, Pancreas, Small intestine, Eyes
After cardiac death: Kidney, Pancreas, Eyes

Step 3: Fill out the special comments column (a)Donation of tissues
If you circled either 1 or 2, and may agree to donate tissues as well, such as the skin, cardiac valves, blood vessels, bones, etc., you may write "All tissues" or individual tissues such as "skin", "cardiac valve", "blood vessel" or "bone".
(b)Intention of prioritizing family as a recipient
If you wish to declare your intention of prioritizing your family as a recipient, read this page, and write "Prioritize family".

Step 4: Sign your name, etc. please sign your name and write the date of the signature yourself. If possible, have member of your family who know that you have this organ donor card, sign his/her name, to confirm the fact.

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