title: Improving public awareness of organ transplantation in Japan.
abstract: The goals of the Japanese chapter of the Transplant Recipients International Organization are to act as a mediator in the provision of mutual aid to transplant recipients, candidates, and their families and to provide education in both the public and professional arenas to promote organ transplantation in Japan. Since 1991, members of the Japanese chapter of the Transplant Recipients International Organization have acted as volunteer facilitators for more than 150 transplant candidates and recipients. The organization's activities have included fund-raising to cover the costs of transplantation, preparing an original donor card for distribution, and petitioning members of the Diet (the Japanese legislative body) 14 times, including speaking at public hearings twice and submitting a petition requesting early passage of the organ transplant bill. The Japanese Diet finally passed an organ transplant bill in June 1997. The activities of the Japanese chapter of the Transplant Recipients International Organization have contributed to the promotion of organ transplantation in Japan and to understanding and support for transplantation within the Japanese community as a whole.
authors.affiliation: Transplant Recipients International Organization, Japan Chapter, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aranami
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aranami
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fukunishi
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D005653:Fund Raising; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008119:Lobbying; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000523:psychology; D011639:Public Opinion; D011788:Quality of Life; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000458:organization & administration*