世論 What Japan Thinks

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Over ten days in the middle of November last year the Cabinet Office Japan conducted an opinion poll regarding the matter of organ transplants. Of the 3,000 randomly selected people from all over the country, 57.6%, or 1,725 people, successfully completed the survey in face-to-face interviews. 52.9% were female, 9.8% in their twenties, 14.9% in their thirties, 16.1% in their forties, 20.8% in their fifties, 19.4% in their sixties, and 19.2% aged seventy or older.

The final section discusses the issue that perhaps generates the most discussion in the foreign community, the legal ban on under 15 year-olds donating organs. This forces many parents with terminally ill infants to seek treatment overseas, usually in the USA. Note that Q14 specifically mentions this issue, thus perhaps slightly biasing the respondent towards selecting a pro-transplant stance.

It’s interesting to note that the answers in Q16 for respecting the wishes of a child are almost identical to those for respecting the wishes of an adult.

Q14: Currently, in the event of brain death the organs of those under the age of 15 cannot be offered for transplant, creating a difficult situation within the country for small children with serious heart diseases, etc. What do you think about this? (Sample size=1,725)

Should not remove the restrictions on donation	10.1%
Perhaps should not remove the restrictions on donation	9.3%
Perhaps should allow donation	40.1%
Should allow donation	27.9%
Can’t say either way	7.0%
Don’t know	5.6%

Q15: What do you think about under 15s and their wishes to donate organs? (Sample size=1,725)

Should respect the decision of the under 15 year olds	26.9%
Because under 15s cannot make a reasoned decision, other people, such as parents, should make the decisions for them	38.7%
Because under 15s cannot make a reasoned decision, other people, such as parents, cannot make an appropriate decision for them	22.2%
Other	1.4%
Don’t know	10.7%

Q16: Assuming an under 15 years old family member was diagnosed as brain dead and had expressed wishes that their organs be donates, would you respect their wishes and approve of their organs being offered for transplant? (Sample size=1,725)

Respect their wishes and approve of transplanting	30.5%
Perhaps respect their wishes and approve of transplanting	25.1%
Perhaps not respect their wishes and not approve of transplanting	6.3%
Not respect their wishes and not approve of transplanting	7.4%
Don’t know what I’d do in that situation	30.8%

Q17: Do you think you have sufficient information regarding the matter of organ transplants? (Sample size=1,725)

Yes	2.8%
Perhaps enough	9.7%
Perhaps not enough	46.3%
Not enough	34.2%
Can’t say either way	3.2%
Don’t know	3.8%

Q18: What sort of information regarding organ transplants do you want? (Sample size=1,725, multiple answer)

Safety of organ transplants and information about treatment	53.2%
Information about organ transplant costs	45.5%
Situation regarding organ transplants carried out	35.1%
Information regarding government support for organ transplants	34.6%
Information about institutions that carry out organ donation and transplants	32.5%
How transplant patients are selected and other information on transplant procedures	32.4%
Information about organ transplant information offices	31.5%
Information about organ transplant patients’ experiences	30.3%
How to express organ donation wishes	26.3%
Information about volunteer groups, medical societies, etc related to organ donation support	18.9%
Other	1.7%
Nothing in particular	14.4%
Don’t know	4.2%

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