Validity of considering substance abuse to be contraindication to heart transplantation
Tomohiro Hasegawa
Volume 2 Issue 1 Pages 12-20
First Published: September 9, 2019
[Japanese]
Abstract
Substance abuse is considered as absolute contraindication to heart transplantation in Japan. In this passage, it was discussed whether this contraindication is medically or ethically appropriate, compared with foreign guidelines. Japanese guidelines are stricter for substance abusers than foreign guidelines, and it may be excessive sanctions to consider substance abuse as absolute contraindication uniformly. The decision to transplant should be made without neglecting the support and evaluation of individual substance-dependent patients.
