Recognizing brain death in Japan
A big change for organ transplants in Japan:
The Lower House, by a 263-167 vote Thursday, passed a bill to (1) recognize brain death as actual death and (2) allow organ transplants from a brain-dead person of any age if his or her family members approve and if the person had not openly rejected the possibility of becoming a donor.
Previously, it had been pretty much impossible for children to get organ transplants in Japan, and the only option was to travel to countries such as the United States for medical care. This new law might help resolve this problem.
As part of its coverage of the new law, Fuji TV sent some reporters to the streets of New York to see what Americans think of the issue:
According to the announcer, 90% of the people asked thought that brain death is the same as death.
Read more about the organ donation issue at Mutantfrog Travelogue. For a viewpoint that isn’t so pleased, check out this Mainichi editorial about how the “law must go further to protect donors.”
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this new law was passed because the japanese have relied on other countries for organ transplants – they don`t want to be donors but will take others` organs. as the doors are being closed to transplant tourism they have no choice but to pass this law.
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According to the yomiuri article
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/iryou/news/iryou_news/20090618-OYT8T00349.htm
In 2008, 11 Japanese patients received heart transplant in Japan and 9 Japanese patients abroad.
As for why there are fewer people who donate their organs, and more people who have to go abroad to receive organ transplantation
http://www.hirokunganbare.com/genjou.pdf
43％ of Japanese people says it is okay to donate their organ
once the brains are dead, the ratio is the same as people abroad, but while in other countries, the organ can be donated if the family agree, but in Japan without a written consent by a donor, the organ cannot be donated.
This new law removes the major restrictions on organ transplants in Japan an age limit and the need for family consent of the donor.
You might be interested in pros and cons on the matter.
http://news.google.co.jp/news/story?pz=1&um=1&ned=jp&hl=ja&q=臓器提供&ncl=diY-nQOLsuXd1VM&cf=all&start=0
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because those 9 who received transplants abroad were probably very very ill – they “jumped to the head of the line” so to speak of the people of those countries. that is why WHO is shutting the doors to transplant tourism in those countries. and that, my friend, is what got the law passed more than anything. of course, that is just my guess. and i would not be interested in reading the pros and cons on the matter in japanese as i don`t read japanese and i come to this site to get my news on japan in english.
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Probably true.
There are more patients than the organs needed for them.
That is why people go abroad.
For instance,
http://www.epm.org/artman2/publish/ethics/Americans_Getting_Transplanted_Organs_from_Chinese_Inmates.shtml
It is said some Japanese patients also visited China for this purpose.
The Transplantation Society (TTS) cocluded
http://www.asas.or.jp/jst/pdf/istanblu_summit200806.pdf
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/臓器移植
The resolutins above by TTS and WHO are one reasons the pending law was passed at this time.
This is a good blog on Japan. I also suggest the following sites to get news on Japan in English.
AMPONTAN
http://ampontan.wordpress.com/
Observing Japan
http://www.observingjapan.com/
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Seems like the authorities got inspired by Will Smith 7 Pounds lol.
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Hahaha Japan turned into India. Can’t wait for the first scandals to come out about how Japanese hospitals are preying on the weak members of society to earn the big bucks.
Any bets on how long that will take?
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I wrote an article on this a while back:
http://www.groundreport.com/Health_and_Science/Take-My-Please
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