Religious fanatics are sometimes as bad as statists when it comes to interfering with societal progress. An August 17, 2014 New York Times article by Kevin Sack entitled "A Clash of Religion and Bioethics Complicates Organ Donation in Israel" explores this phenomenon. Kidney donation is the victim in this scenario.
The crux of the conflict is as follows: Jewish religious fundamentalists believe the Bible states that a human is not dead until respiratory function ceases, yet the best time for organ donation is when brain death has occurred but circulatory and respiratory function have not ceased.
Of interest, the story notes that a few "Israelis favor the more radical solution of legalizing compensation for donors." Bizarrely, the author did not interview Sigrid Fry-Revere, J.D. Ph.D. for this story (as readers of this blog know, Dr. Fry-Revere published a book entitled The Kidney Sellers: A Journey of Discovery in Iran, which evaluates the Iranian organ donor compensation program, on February 1, 2014). Don't hold your breath, however, - pun intended - waiting for the Israeli State to legalize the sell of kidneys or any other organ.
The crux of the conflict is as follows: Jewish religious fundamentalists believe the Bible states that a human is not dead until respiratory function ceases, yet the best time for organ donation is when brain death has occurred but circulatory and respiratory function have not ceased.
Of interest, the story notes that a few "Israelis favor the more radical solution of legalizing compensation for donors." Bizarrely, the author did not interview Sigrid Fry-Revere, J.D. Ph.D. for this story (as readers of this blog know, Dr. Fry-Revere published a book entitled The Kidney Sellers: A Journey of Discovery in Iran, which evaluates the Iranian organ donor compensation program, on February 1, 2014). Don't hold your breath, however, - pun intended - waiting for the Israeli State to legalize the sell of kidneys or any other organ.
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