Should children be used as organ donors? Current Japanese policy prohibitions are currently being considered for revision. Read the articles below as background information and then state (and defend) your position.
Japan May End Ban from Yahoo! News
Pediatric Group May Accept Child Organ Donations from Japan Times Online
Organ Transplant Law Falls Short (pdf) from Daily Yomiuri Online
Proposal for Organ Transplant Law Revision from International Network for Life Studies
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I believe that Japan should change their laws to accomodate their people. If a child is brain dead and the family consents to organ donation, the organ should be accepted. Sendo even said that they have had too many deaths already because of lack of donations. At first it may be hard to have consenting parents because it is a huge change for them but when it becomes "normal" it will be more acceptable. I believe parents do act in the best interest of their children and if they are too young to consent, the parent should be able to give life to someone. Raising millions of dollars to come here to the US for an organ when it does not need to be this way should show Japan's Government that the people are desperate. The need for organs is already great enough in our country to have people from other countries raise money to come here. I know that the issue of organ donations is hard enough when it deals with adults so I could never imagine the decision with a child. I would not want to be on the other side either, in desperate need for my child. Japan should overturn their decision for their people and give hope to the many families that are in need. Maybe with Japan changing their laws we will have a few more organs for the families that are in dire need!
While I admire Japan’s policy of respecting the rights of children when it comes to organ donation, the policy is too restrictive, and will cause much more suffering in their country for those who desperately need organ transplants.
Currently organs can only be harvested from persons 15 years or older, who have given consent to be an organ donor along with parental consent for the procedure. There is a prohibition against organ donation from those who are younger than 15. Japan has over 12,000 people who need to have an organ transplant; however, because of the current legislation, very few will receive an organ from someone in their own country. This is especially true if the person who needs a transplant is a child. The only option that leaves for those who need a transplant and their families is to travel to another country where organ harvesting laws are less strict. This option is limiting because of the expense. The family must be either rich or they must appeal to the public for donations, which in the articles attached to this blog amounted to well over a million dollars per person.
Japan will also need to consider the international community’s feelings about donated organs, when revising their current policy. Britain and Australia have stopped accepting Japanese patients who need organ transplants. Germany and the United States are still accepting Japanese patients for organ transplantation; however, opposition against transplantation for foreigners in these countries is growing, and even the WHO is considering adding a clause in its organ transplant guideline, asking its member nations to complete the organ transplant process in their own countries. If Japan doesn’t reduce their restrictions in their organ donation policy, and other countries change their policies to exclude transplantation into foreigners, then the Japanese people will face a hopeless situation when it comes to organ transplants, and the only other option available to them would be black market organs.
Japan places a high value on the lives of its citizens, and wants to give everyone, including children and teens the right to express their beliefs on what they consider death to be, along with whether they would like to be an organ donor. Realistically though, death and organ donations are not issues these groups really think about, unless it has touched them in a personal way, so I don’t see many youths in this country filling out organ donation cards giving consent to harvest their organs. When a child is considered “brain dead” or “heart dead” and they have not previously given their consent, the parents should be able to make the decision whether or not they are willing to donate their child’s organs. They are responsible for what happens to their children in life and in death. It is a good idea that, in addition to parental consent, the courts also consent to the harvesting of organs, especially if there is any doubt as to the intentions of the parents, such as in the case of child abuse. The courts can look at the case in an impartial way, and determine if harvesting should proceed.
Children in Japan have been underserved by the legislatures of that country for not giving them the chance to receive organs needed to save their lives.The purpose of banning child organ donation was to prevent some parents from abusing their children.There are a lot of other effective methods to prevent child abuse and have parents accountable for their actions.Banning child organ donation put a lot of parents in financial pressure to go abroad and seek the necessary organ.Families who could not raise the kind of money needed to go abroad lost their children.The problem is very urgent that the world health organization is pressing the Japan politicians to consider their legislative ban of child organ donations.The life of a child is precious and to do what it takes to save that life is every parent's right.There are numerous children of all countries who in one way or another get to be brain dead and have an opportunity to save the lives of other children.It is very shameful that Japan have denied the true blessing for both the donor and the receiver of life itself.The politician in Japan should consider the lift on the ban of child organ donation and let the problem of that nation be solved there.If they keep looking at the other way and leave the current law untouched,only the rich and the previlaged children of Japan can go abroad and get the service.The poor and the powerless will continue to suffer.Notonly it is not fair for the non previlaged Japanese, but also puts pressure on other countries organ transplant shortage.I think the Japanese should really take in to consideration and make things right.
I feel that there shouldn’t be a problem with organ donation as long as the child donating is fully aware of the situation in which he is able to understand what he or she is doing and the risks involved. With that being said it is a big chance that children at a certain age are not able to comprehend that type of situation in which I do believe there should be an age limit, possibly under the age of 13, to where if the child wants to donate, more actions are being taken. This means that the child is fully aware of the extent of the situation, possibly a psychologist talks with them, or the social workers that the hospital has. Though there are many children who exhibit maturity at a younger age in which I don’t think there is a problem as long as the child knows to the full extent. I feel that donating demonstrates an act of love and compassion that someone can exhibit towards another person. Being a Christian, I have to refer back to the bible where we are all familiar with the premises “love our neighbors” or “doing unto others as we would have them do unto us”. Jesus demonstrated an unconditional love for us by giving up His life for us. I feel that God created us beautifully that if we weren’t supposed to help out others like donating a kidney or heart than we wouldn’t be matches to other people. And like we learned in class, if there were no child donations permitted, then how can a child receive an organ donation that he or she needs. Adult organs are not the same size as a child’s. And I don’t know about other people but, if a child of mine was terminally ill and was in desperate need of anything, I will do everything it is in my power to help and save my child. It could also help if many of us are given more information about organ donation so that if God forbid a child of someone’s dies that they take a look into possibly donating their child’s organs so possibly another child could live. I know it’s a sad thing to think about especially when you are in mourning over the death of your child but it is something to really think about.
There are many circumstances to an issue like this. For instance, I believe that the Japanese have the best intentions at heart considering children and wanting to protect them. But I believe that if the child is old enough to understand completely what is going to happen, the risks involved, etc. then why shouldn’t they be able to make an important decision such as this? I don’t believe they should put a number on it because some children mature faster than others. The child should be told everything they need to be told and then in turn should be asked back everything that was told to them to make sure they completely understand the circumstances. If the child, for instance, is brain dead or heart dead, then of course the parents should get the deciding vote. If the parents are thought to have abused, neglected or not have the child’s best interest at heart, then what happens to the child should be decided by an unbiased third party, most likely a court system. But is it probable that most parents don’t have their child’s best interest at heart? I don’t think so. I believe Japan should change it laws and allow children to donate their organs, like was said in class, a child who needs an organ cannot get an order from an adult, then what happens? If this was allowed than many children could be saved. How is it that only the rich people can afford to go to other countries in search for an organ? What about the poor children, what are they supposed to do? If Japan would allow this, so many children’s lives would be saved. If this was allowed, and other countries adopted the idea to allow children to donate organs, as well as adults for that matter, selling organs on the black market would go down, because people would not be in such a desperate need for organs, for money, or medical purposes. If Japan was to redo its laws, many people could be saved, not just the ones who could afford it.
I feel japan's law is too strict yes its horrible child organ donation but there is a serious need for them. As was said in class you can't put a 30 year old's heart in a 4 year old the chest is WAY too small. People are born with natural problems all the time myself as an example my kidney stopped working when I was 9 or so no fault of my own just the way it happened. Now I got treatment so I kept my kidney but it was close I nearly lost it. Now if I had needed a Kidney then me being 4 something in feet tall if say a 6 foot tall person was the donor then that kidney would have taken up a good chunck of my chest cavity by itself. There is also the fact an organ donation from someone older to someone younger has before proven problematic with the organ starting to decay into old age much sooner the rest of the body is ready for. Basically Children need Children organs both due to size, age ranges, and often undiscussed growth. A childs organ is sometimes different from an adults with horomones nutriention and other things releated to growth. Basically having an older organ might damage the kids devolpoment. So I say yes Japan needs to revise the law so that Kids can start getting Kid organs its gruesome yes but it is a nesscary sacrifice in the end.
I fully support the use of children’s organs for transplants when they are confirmed brain dead. I don’t understand the controversy between taking an organ from an adult versus a child?! If a person is confirmed brain dead than what type of quality of life do they have? Absolutely NONE! So many lives are saved by organ transplant and donations. The problem we have is waiting for the organs to become available and in order to increase the chances of saving someone’s life than children should be allowed to donate their organs. If the child is too young to decide for themselves; it should be the decision of the parents on allowing organ donation. I personally am registered as an organ donor and my family is fully aware of my wishes. When or if the time comes that I can no longer use my organs; I want them to go to someone who can. This may sound a bit morbid but it is my belief that if I am dead what good are my organs to me?? I suppose that many people are sensitive to the fact that the child is deceased but what better way to let them live on by allowing their organs to be used for someone else to live. It’s already inevitable that the child will no longer live. I suppose another reason is for religious beliefs and that is OK too, we don’t have to be an organ donor unless we consent and make it known to our families so that our wishes can be carried out. Yes it is such a tragedy to lose a life but again parts of us can live on in other people. If I have a child and God forbid something happened to cause brain death I would allow organ donation. It is not only adults that need transplants but sometimes children too and an adult’s heart can sometimes be too big for a child. I would support Japan to change their law on organ donation to allow children to donate their organs. However, I also respect the wishes of those that do not feel that this is a good idea. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I was curious about the state of Arizona’s current donor information so I went to Arizona Donor Network website http://www.dnaz.org/Home.aspx. We currently have 1,772 people waiting for an organ transplant in the state and over 100,000 in the US. But I was humbled to see that we have over 1,000,000 registered donors in the state.
First of all, I don’t think we need to take the persons heart beat length after brain death into a consideration on deciding how early a doctor can start the organ transplantation. If consent is going to matter at all, it should be much more powerful and decisive enough to never wait until the heart stop or the waiting individual dies. In general, it seems like people make choices based on circumstances. But issues like this are completely different, tragic and need quick solution. We should either base our decision based on current matters like people dying (acting out regardless of the rules and laws we previously made or changing the law with out the need to revote or take time following legal procedures) or follow rules we have already made up and speculate changes we are going to make to the laws through series of discussion (ignoring public outcry and death). If sometime in the future, these Japanese laws change to allow transplantation of organ from brain dead children, it would be stupid to ignore many who died hopelessly. Not every poor children in Japan will get the community fundraise of about a $1 million dollar. And even if some luckily do, many countries will put their own dying children on top of the list. I don’t think those Japanese decision makers would just sit there and count how many children they have lost through years. Save them today or watch them die while having a series of discussion on increasing the age limit to 15 and ½ years. Rules should be made based entirely on providing a solution to the circumstance why the rules where needed in the first place. If you are concerned about consent, what about the high percentage of people that are willing to vote against the law when their loved ones are involved. People want to be inspired or want to go through tragedy to actually allow their organ taken out of their future brain dead body. And children between 12 and 15 would rarely approve organ donation, “no, I don’t want you to cut me with knife” and even if they do, nor parents would allow the children’s organ ripped out of their little body, “no not to my child, that‘s so cruel”. The best solution would be to persuade children to say yes to their future brain dead body organ transplantation. But, the proportion of people who are dying to the donors who willed in the past would still be disproportional. The law actually is not only ignorant but also a stumbling block to future children’s lives and it has no intent of being solution-based.
The laws in Japan are way to strict and unreasonable. I'm not a parent so its hard to understand the pain it might cause to make that decision, but I am a daughter. If it wasn't for an organ donor and their family, I would not have a mother today. My mother is on the small side so a young person may have been her donor. There is a case in the Northeast of a family suing a hospital who they believe hastened their son's death to harvest his organs. its a highly emotional moment to ask a parent for their child's organs. if a child is not viable to life, the organs should be donated. maybe this could be a pro-life issue, many who are against abortion could consider the option of organ donation when they continue a non viable pregnancy. we underestimate kids and what they understand. then there was the case of the Canadian couple who met a family in need and their daughter (her heart was a perfect match) was on a respirator, they agreed to take her off to donate but she continued to breath on her own, it was heart wrenching to watch this story. when you have people having to go outside your country to get care and organ donations, that should shame you to change.
I believe that children should be used as organ donors but only when they are brain dead and have no chance of ever living a normal life. I don’t think that it would be responsible for healthy children to donate their organs even if they are willing to do so. Those children that decide that they want to donate might not know the consequences to a full extent that an adult would. I believe that if a child wants to donate and the parents agree that there should be a way for them to petition this to someone and have medical and psychological evaluations to see if this is what should be done without harming the possible donor’s life. I truly understand the reasons why Japan has these laws and think that they should carefully consider the changes that they are going to make. I myself decided to become an organ donor when I no longer need my organs and pass away. It makes no sense to me not to do so. If one of my loved ones became brain dead and we were faced with the decision but artificially maintaining them alive or to donate their organs instead then I would definitely want to donate the organs. It would be a really sad decision to make but I would feel as that would be the right thing to do because it could potentially save someone else’s life. In addition people should be more educated about organ donation. So many people are waiting for organs that would never come only because there are not enough organ donors. I have heard horrible stories about tourist going into other countries and being killed for their organs. The most recent story I heard was about a truck full of organs that was abandoned when the driver got into a car accident. People are going to extreme measures to get these organs and unfortunately the profit for this business is unimaginable high. Not just Japan but all countries should reconsider their regulations for organ donation.
I think that young children should be used as organs donors because many of adult organs cannot function in a young child’s body. The ban in Japan is only for kids younger than 15 and that the child has to be brain dead, so what about the organs that can be used from children younger than 15. It sounds immoral but in the end those organs being used from the younger children are helping many Japanese citizens. Which can also help the organ shortage crisis in Japan and keep many Japanese in Japan so they can be closer to home. Instead of going to other countries and raising and spending thousands of yen just to go over seas to get a transplant, where it can sometimes be to late. by also allowing children to donate this can help other countries give their own organs to their own citizens so another problem is caused. Even though I agree that Japan should left their ban but I still do think that there should be limitations and regulations. Japan can lower the age of organ donations below the age of 15, but the family has to give their consent to the donation and should fully understand what they are giving their consent to. If the organs are going to be taken from children who are brain dead they should know for sure that they are brain dead. Another regulation should be that organs cant be taken from kids who are not brain dead and have died of other factors, but they could be donors if their parents give their consent. So in short I believe that children can be used as donors but with some rules and regulations.
I do believe that children can be used as organ donors. If there are no children donors, there will be no transplants for children, and those who need one will die. Liver transplants from adults to children can work because a liver can be cut to fit so to speak. However, with heart transplants this is not possible. Parents are forced to travel outside the country to receive organ transplants for their children. Which discriminates against the poor, and often even if enough money is raised the children often die waiting for their transplant. This practice of obtaining organs from other countries has not been widely accepted to where many countries now no longer allow the Japanese children to receive organs from their countries. Rawls theory states that you must use the veil of ignorance and imagine what would be the fairest solution if you were the lowest, poorest person in society. In Japan if you were a poor infant who needs a heart transplant you certainly would be that person and allowing children’s organs to be donated would be the fairest solution. If you consider the child who’s donating the organs then it would still be fair because they are already dead and they can still have a proper burial, etc. even with donating. Now, if they child was a living donor, would it still be fair to donate bone marrow to a family member or anyone else for that matter without their consent? I contend that it still would be. For one, bone marrow is a relatively safe procedure and wouldn’t have a lifetime effect on them. However, for a kidney donation, that can have lifetime effects especially if the child donating is a female because if a female only has one kidney it is not suggested she has any children in that condition. In their culture desecrating a corpse is especially heinous, and as a result they have such strict laws on organ donation. They do have different definitions of death so that people can decide if they believe brain death is human death or if heart and lung failure is human death. People should also have the right to decide whether or not to donate their children’s organs. In the utilitarianism school of thought the best solution is one that increases the most good while decreasing pain. By allowing children to donate organs would increase the most good by saving another child’s life and if the donation occurs after the child dies then it causes them no pain. If the child is a living donor then the risks and affects on the children donating should be carefully considered and weighted but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t donate. Kant’s philosophy is that one must fulfill their duty to their family and society. By being a living donor to a relative the children are fulfilling their duty to family and if their organs are donated upon their death then their parents are helping to fulfill their duty to society. There is no way to force someone to do this, adult or child, living donor or otherwise because while someone has the responsibility of fulfilling their duty they are not forced to. Such as a person who is not contributing to society by working or going to school, etc. is not punished and forced to contribute. Of course if the child is a living donor then precautions should be taken to ensure the parents are not using the child simply to donate all of their organs that they can. Parents are suppose to make the best decisions for their children and while the majority does there should be laws to enforce to make sure the parents don’t abuse the ability to donate organs, just like there are laws to ensure that parents don’t abuse their children in other ways. The organ donation laws are so strict also to ensure that parent’s don’t abuse their children in such a way but there are other effective methods to combat this problem and allow organ donation. If there are conflicting interests then the dispute can be settled in a court of law, as in the fictional example of My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Parents make other major decisions for their children such as what religion they grown up in, the school they go to, the clothes they wear, all until the child is old enough to make their own decisions. If the child is old enough to understand, comprehend and make an independent decision then they certainly should be able to and shouldn’t be forced to make a donation if they do not want to. If the child is a living donor then information should be explained to them so they can make an informed to decision. If the child is too young however, then the responsibility falls to the parents as usual. The decision is not an easy one to make and certainly one should not assume wrong doing on the parent’s part if they do decide to donate their child’s organs living or dead. There is no question that a parent would consent to allow their child to receive an organ to save their life. However, that ability to consent is useless if there are no organs to receive. Again, no one can force parents to donate their children’s organs but certainly there should be the option. No one assume bad judgment on the parent’s receiving the organs for their children, only those who are giving. Now, isn’t there a golden rule out there somewhere that so many claim to follow that “it is better to give, than to receive…”.
I think that children can be organ donors. Japan needs to change their laws to help out their people. There are many deaths their because of the lack of organs. Know if a child has something like brain dead and they know that there is nothing that will save him and if the family of that child agrees to have the child’s organs donated, then they should be able to have those organ donated. It may be a difficult decision to make because they have lost a loved one but at end if they are willing to have the organs donated then there shouldn’t be anything to stop them. We already have a lack of organs and organ donators in the whole world. Another reason why Japan should change their rules or laws is because if a Japanese family has someone that needs an organ, they are going to go desperate and they are going to do whatever it takes to get that organ to save that love one. They are going to go to different countries where the rules might be different to theirs. So I think that Japan is just making their citizens waste money and time, because they are going to go to other countries seeking for that organ if it’s not too late. So I think that only under some circumstances should a child be able to become an organ donor and it also has to be approved by the guardians or parents.
For Miriam -
I think Japan should really reconsider their laws in organ donation as well as maybe putting some emphasis in what is going on with the treatment of their children. I think it is absurd to hold back organs that could be successfully transplanted into another child. There are over 1,500 babies a year are dying before an available organ is located for them. I think it a very controversy law to suggest parents are not legally able to obtain an organ for their child in their own country. But it is an acceptable practice to travel elsewhere to buy one for exuberant amounts of money. Why should the babies waiting for donors go without because of an influx of people from another country with more money are allocated these organs. It doesn’t make sense to me at all. If they changed there laws, because of the population in general versus western civilization, maybe they could help the babies over here that are in such need as well. I think their concerns as far as any pressuring or influencing their kids into making decisions they may not otherwise if under different circumstances could be remedied with an outer influence. Maybe in the schools were teachers would have education on the importance of transplant, then with legal supervision they could make a decision on there own. I think mothers of infants who have been given all the opportunity by law to be diagnosed and with no more options are diagnosed brain dead, the parent or legal guardian should have the right to donate on their behalf if they so desire. We all make decisions for our children from the day they are born. Why take that right away to save another babies life. It is already a devastating experience to loose a child. Infants and young children already have the odds against them in organ donation simply by the lack of them. Since there organs are so small, as it is it is not like they can receive them from an adult. I think there is a great injustice being done in Japan, and I really hope they revise the laws for the sake of all the children everywhere.
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