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, FTV 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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