The first cadaveric renal transplantantation in Poland took place in Warsaw on January 26th, 1966,and very soon was followed by the first living related donor kidney transplantation. At that time the World Registry organized by Professor Joseph Murray recorded only 600 such procedures in the whole world. It was our wish and belief that the kidney transplantation in Poland would become a standard procedure. However, it was not the case. Existing legal regulations were not very helpful. Cadaveric kidneys procurement was considered a part of postmortem examination.

Keywords: renal transplantation, public opinion survey, legal regulations, Organ Transplantation