[The Organ Transplantation Law].

The old Organ Transplantation Law was issued in 1997 and had never been revised for 12 years. Brain dead donors had to leave written consent to donate their own organs as well as their family consent. The organ donation from children under 15 years old was prohibited. The majority of the patients in need of organ transplantation died of organ shortages in Japan. Many patients especially children had to travel abroad to receive organs. The amendment bill for the Organ Transplantation Law was passed in the House of Councilors on July 13, 2009. The new Organ Transplantation Law permit organ donation from brain dead donors who had not refused to donate their organs, as long as there is family consent. Children under 15 years old can become donors. This article explains the old and the new Organ Transplantation Laws and the course of the amendment.