Jewish Scene
Rabbis divided on organ donation law
Neta Sela
Published: 25.03.08, 22:20
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13 Talkbacks for this article
1. Ya don't have to look far....
Yossi ,   Levittown, PA   (03.25.08)
It's clear from looking at the current political leadership in the US, Israel, the PA, and other countries that MK Gafni's view is probably correct: You CAN be brain dead and still be alive.
2. Study Kabballah, you will understand
Avraham ,   los angeles, CA., U.   (03.25.08)
When someone says the following: "Did you know that Israeli Jews have the lowest rates of organ donation of any ethnic group in the country? In a state that arose from the ashes of the millions who perished, the saving of life at any price could be expected to be the highest item on the national agenda. So why do we recoil from organ donation “for religious reasons”? My answer would always be: Study Kabbalah.
3. For those interested in this fascinating subject:
LEE ,   NY, USA   (03.26.08)
then link to this site. Dr. Rabbi Akiva Tatz is an extremely interesting and pleasant lecturer. When you get to the site, scroll down to the Medical Halacha section and you will find a few lectures on the topic of transplants and organ donations. Its really mind-opening. http://www.simpletoremember.com/audio/Rabbi_Akiva_Tatz.html Enjoy!
4. So this means that the organs of Olmert who is brain dead
Miriam ,   Israel   (03.26.08)
is up for grabs. Probably many more organs in the Israeli braind dead government can be used. What an historical move!
5. 4 You hit he nail on the head Miriam
gabriela ben ari ,   jerusalem   (03.26.08)
6. could be good for Rav Ovadia Yosef
Simon ,   TA Israel   (03.26.08)
Finally he could have a brain put in !
7. American tax money for extremist Rabbis
Jo Citizen ,   Jerusalem   (03.26.08)
How about getting a job? No doubt these parasites have milked Israel dry now its time to get their greedy little mits on the americans tax money!
8. #7 LOL!!!! Why is it every secular athiest posts from Jerusa
(03.26.08)
What a faker
9. RABBI ELIASHIV & HALACHA: Man Declared Brain Dead Wakes Up
(03.26.08)
Man Declared Brain Dead Wakes Up Aftear Hearing Doctors Say He Is Dead Oklahoma City, OK - Four months after he was declared brain dead and doctors were about to remove his organs for transplant, Zach Dunlap says he feels "pretty good." Dunlap was pronounced dead in Wichita Falls, Texas, after he was injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident. His family approved having his organs harvested. His father, Doug, said he saw the results of the brain scan. "There was no activity at all, no blood flow at all." But as family members were paying their last respects, suddenly he moved his foot and hand and reacted to a pocketknife scraped across his foot and to pressure applied under a fingernail. After 48 days in the hospital, he returned home. Yesterday he and his family were in New York, appearing on NBC's "Today." "I feel pretty good. but it's just hard ... just ain't got the patience," Dunlap told NBC. Dunlap, 21, of Frederick, said he has no recollection of the crash. But one thing he does remember is hearing the doctors pronounce him dead. "I'm glad I couldn't get up and do what I wanted to do," he said. "Just makes me thankful, makes me thankful that they didn't give up," he said. "Only the good die young, so I didn't go." [AP]
10. RAV OVADIA and HALACHA and who is R Eliyshiv?
S Judah ,   London   (03.26.08)
As the leading halachic authority and Talmudic Sage of our time , I believe we can go along with Rav Ovadia on this. I don't beleive the matter has been explained properly. It is certainly not brain dead as it was recognised before or as in the example of no 9. As for Rav Eliyashiv ,he suffers from the delusion of all Litvats who keep advertising themselves as Gadol Hador's in perpetuity. No! is his stock answer to everything,
11. No "daunting chasm"
Teacher of Ethics ,   New York   (03.27.08)
There is no "daunting chasm between Jewish law and medical science." Jewish law is perfectly capable of dealing with the thorniest issues in medical ethics. In fact, it is better able to deal with sophisticated medical dilemmas than any other system I know of. The issue here is one of legitimate halachic debate. Everyone agrees that it would be unethical to murder a live patient to save another one. The question is whether removing the organs prior to respiratory failure is considered murder. Some Rabbis say yes and some say no.
12. Wrong, issue not related to respiratory
Sam   (03.28.08)
A prior 'teacher of ethics' incorrectly stated that this is related to respiratory failure. Actually, there are two issues: 1) Does 100% brain death meet the Torah criteria for death [most major rabbis say no], and 2) for those who say Yes to #1, does the way the secular doctors determine 'brain death' actually mean that 100% of the brain is dead [most honest neurologists would say No].
13. politics, religion, or medicine?
tom ,   toronto, canada   (03.31.08)
unfortunately, this question of halakha and medicine is being played out in the arena of politics. it would be a lot easier to accept rabbi eliashiv's opinion if it were not being transmitted via an mk representing a political party.
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