Over 50% back organ donation with families` consent alone: gov't poll

TOKYO, Nov. 8 Kyodo -
Over half of the respondents to a recent Cabinet Office poll believe it is
acceptable to donate the organs of those who were declared brain dead but had
not indicated their intentions regarding organ donation, as long as their
families approve.
The survey results, released Saturday, showed that 54.3 percent of those
responding believe that decisions on whether or not the organs of brain dead
patients should be donated without their consent can be left up to their
families.
The figure was up 6.2 percentage points from the level in the previous survey
conducted in 2006, and has exceeded the 50 percent mark for the first time
ever, according to the Cabinet Office.
The survey was carried out in September among 3,000 men and women aged 20 or
older across Japan, with 59.0 percent responding.
The number of respondents who think that such donations are unacceptable even
with the families' approval totaled 33.1 percent, down 2.6 points, while those
who said organs should be donated regardless of the families' intentions
totaled 7.3 percent, down 2.1 points.
Under Japan's present Organ Transplant Law that came into effect in October
1997, brain dead people cannot have their organs transplanted unless they have
indicated in writing their consent to do so and unless their families agree to
the donation.
The survey results are expected to help heat up discussions in the ongoing Diet
session on a bill to amend the law and allow for such organ donations only with
the families' consent.
The bill was submitted by some lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic
Party and its coalition partner, the New Komeito party.
In the meantime, a record high of 43.5 percent out of respondents, up 1.9
points, said they ''wish to'' or ''would rather wish to'' donate their organs
if they are pronounced brain dead.
The survey also showed 69.0 percent of respondents, up 0.1 point, believe that
the transplantation of organs from children aged 14 or younger should also be
authorized.
Some 44.2 percent answered that the children's parents or third parties who can
make a fair decision should decide on such donations, while 26.2 percent said
the children's own intentions should be respected and 18.9 percent believed it
is not appropriate for a third party to decide on the matter.
Although 71.1 percent responded that they knew about organ donation cards or
seals, only 8.4 percent actually had a card or seal, with 23.9 percent of them
saying they did not know how to get one and the same proportion saying they
feel reluctant to donate their own organs.
Even among those who said they have organ donation cards or seals, 49.7 percent
said they have not indicated in their cards or seals whether or not they
actually intend to donate their organs.
==Kyodo