The South Korean government said Sunday a recent legal revision will allow organ donation in the case of brain death without the family's consent -- if the person had consented to donation before suffering permanent and complete loss of brain functions.
The revised clause of the Organs Transplant Act takes effect on Aug. 21, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The current law states that organ donation after brain death requires the consent of at least one family member aged 14 or older, defined as a spouse, lineal descendent or ascendant, sibling, first cousin or closer relative.
The revision will grant an exception to those who do not have family members falling under the aforementioned range and who had previously been unable to donate one's organs despite having had expressed the willingness to do so.
The ministry said the revision only applies to braindead people who have no family and have explicitly expressed the intent to donate organs. It is currently discussing follow-up measures related to the revision.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
