O-48 Bioethics for decision support on end-of-life care in Japan

Background This presentation discusses the outlook of Advance Care Planning (ACP) in Japan, with attention to the dilemma of life-prolonging treatment of End-of-Life Care, which has been questioned by the study of Bioethics. Aim This presentation aims to explore the current situation of Advance Directives (ADs), Living Wills (LWs) and decision  making in Japan. Japanese Attitudes toward ACP for End-of-Life Decision. Method We conducted a survey involving questionnaires for ACPs or ADs to 1000 adults. Questions: 1. Who are (were) you talking with? Ex. father, mother, son, daughter, doctor... 2. When? Where? Ex. TV, Hospital, funeral service... Results Quantitative Results: 94% of Japanese have not written ACPs or ADs. Qualitative Results: Japanese have an awareness of the issues problems involved lack of information for terminal care, support, and consultant or facilitator etc. Discussion Discussion of death is culturally difficult in Japan. Conclusion Most Japanese people want to practice in care planning, but the types of written ADs most commonly used in the U. S. are not suitable. With the world’s oldest population, Japan must find way to communicate and discuss ACP before dementia or disease make it impossible.