title: [The current legal status of human organ transplantation].
abstract: Advances in medical technology mean that organ donation operations hold the potential to significantly improve the health status of organ failure patients. Taiwan registers an average of 100~200 organ donors per year; however, cases awaiting organ transplant regularly number 8,000 annually. According to the Human Organ Transplant Act, health professionals are obliged to promote organ donation. This article introduces the Taiwan Human Organ Transplant Act and illustrates its implementation and relevant provisions in order to increase general awareness among healthcare professionals of the legal aspects of organ donation and transplantation. In addition, this paper cites two judicial decisions that highlight domestic judicial practice with regard to human organ transplantation. These include decisions on AIDS organ donation and the ruling not to establish an organ bank. Healthcare professionals must comprehend the legal requirements and current status of human organ transplantation in order to play a positive role in increasing organ donations in Taiwan. A win-win situation for healthcare provision and patients results when patient safety is the cornerstone of healthcare provider services.
authors.affiliation: General Education Center, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taiwan, ROC. joychiu@ntunhs.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hui-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Su-Fen
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Midicne, National Taiwan University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ya-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D006282:Health Personnel / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013624:Taiwan; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
keywords: Human Organ Transplant Act; health professionals; law; organ donation; organ transplant