[The legal basis of organ transplantation (author's transl)]

Report on the legal basis of organ transplantation in Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Finland. Reference is made to the legal uncertainty in the Federal Republic of Western Germany. The Federation probably has no legislative competence for an adequate transplantation law. Amendments of the xi 168 StGB suggested by individual Federal States are discussed. The synopsis of the existing legal rules in the above mentioned countries suggests the proposal of general legal principles which should guarantee 1. the best medical care in transplantation medicine especially in renal explantates 2. a legal protection for the physician 3. a protection for personal rights of the donor. The author feels that the rights of those persons who provide for the corpses should be superceded by these considerations.