A certain Buddhist's stand toward brain death and organ transplants : On Mr. Yamaori's argument in "I Won't Donate My Organs"

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  • 脳死・臓器移植問題とある仏教者の対応 : 『私は臓器を提供しない』における山折氏の主張をめぐって

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Abstract

This paper aims to suggest an approach which should be expected of men of religion by examining the argument by a Buddhist against the brain death and organ transplantation. Buddhist Yamaori's arguments against brain death and organ transplantation are very interesting, but do not seem to hold as an objection from Buddhism for the following reasons. 1) He says that there are in principle no manners of death in brain death and organ transplantation, but this is not necessarily true. 2) His negation of organ donation by referring to the development of the shashinshiko (捨身飼虎) story is a negation based on historical criticism, but not on Buddhism mind. 3) He says that he is so eager to fast that he won't donate his organs, but it is deduced from a mistaken premise. His arguments have the following characteristics or limitations. 1) He disapproves brain death and organ transplantation based on only one story or dogma. 2) He assumes from the beginning a situation where his ideal manners of death and dying of fast can be carried out, so he dismisses the problem of brain death and organ transplantation as unsuitable to the situation. 3) Consequently, the people involved in organ transplantation such as donors, recipients and their family are not taken into account. From the above consideration, men of religion are expected to feel sympathy for dying people, and they should keep in mind the following points. 1) When they make remarks about the problems on contemporary medicine, they should explain or argue not from individual dogmas but from fundamental principles of their religion. 2) Since they are regarded as specialists on matters concerning death, they should make their best effort to know about present-day medicine, particularly emergency medicine, when they make use of their expertise or experiences.

Journal

  • Bioethics

    Bioethics 13 (1), 140-149, 2003

    Japan Association for Bioethics

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