The revised Organ Transplant Law went into force July 17. The revision is aimed at increasing the number of organ transplants in Japan. But it may increase the burden on doctors, especially at emergency medicine departments.
Before the revision, organs could be taken, with family approval, only from people aged 15 or over who had accepted brain death as actual death and indicated in writing their intention of becoming a donor. Now, organ transplants are possible from a brain-dead person of any age if the person has not openly rejected becoming a donor and if his or her family members approve.
Under the revised law, if a person is declared brain dead, the chance of his or her family members having to decide whether to allow removal of organs for transplants may increase.