LAW | New commentary sheds light on Austria’s Organ Transplantation Act

Austria’s Organ Transplantation Act (OTPG) governs a field of medicine in which legal, ethical and societal issues are closely intertwined. Human organs are a scarce resource, and more organs are needed for patients than are available. As a result, organ transplantation law is a particularly sensitive area from both a legal policy and an ethical perspective.

A new commentary on the OTPG now provides a comprehensive overview of the current legal framework in Austria. Edited by Karin Bruckmüller of the Faculty of Law together with colleagues from the Universities of Vienna and Innsbruck as well as UMIT, the volume takes an interdisciplinary approach and is aimed equally at legal scholars and medical professionals.

In addition to the legal foundations, the commentary addresses current developments in transplant medicine, including uterus transplantation and cross-over donation. It also examines controversial issues and places them in their broader legal context.

Overall, the commentary shows that the Organ Transplantation Act has succeeded in striking a balance between maintaining a high level of organ availability and safeguarding the autonomy and protection of donors. At the same time, it provides legal certainty for everyone involved in the transplantation process.

The commentary thus makes a timely and practice-oriented contribution to an area of law that is of great medical and societal importance in light of the continuing shortage of donor organs.

Aigner/​Bruckmüller/​Flatscher-​Thöni/​Voithofer (eds)

OTPG – Organ Transplantation Act
Length: 225 pages, hardback
ISBN (print): 978-3-7046-9808-7
ISBN (eBook): 978-3-7046-9892-6
Publication date: 23 March 2026

About the publication: OTPG – Organ Transplantation Act”