State not to appeal court order recognizing A-bomb victims

TOKYO, Feb. 3 Kyodo -
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said Tuesday it will not appeal a court
ruling that recognized two patients who have prostate and glandular tumors as
suffering from atomic bomb-related diseases.
As the plaintiffs have said they will not appeal the Jan. 23 Kagoshima District
Court ruling, the case will be the first district court ruling to be made final
among a series of redress suits filed by atomic-bomb sufferers.
The court recognized the patients as suffering from atomic bomb-related
diseases, expanding the scope of such legally recognized illnesses.
Their applications for certification as suffering from atomic bomb-linked
diseases had been rejected by the state, based on its old criteria for
recognition.
The state introduced new criteria last April that eased the conditions for
certification, but prostate and glandular tumors are still not recognized as
atomic bomb-linked diseases even under the new criteria.
The state provides special medical benefits to those recognized as suffering
from atomic bomb-related diseases.
==Kyodo
2009-02-03 22:30:50