Russia's State Duma is working on draft legislation to allow the use of organs from deceased children for transplants. At a press conference held on Friday, Duma deputy and healthcare committee member Alexander Petrov told the TASS news agency that the new legislation would be drafted during the parliament's autumn-spring session.
"One deceased person saves the lives of seven to eight people," Petrov said. "There's a working group drafting a new transplant law, which includes a part about children's transplants." Petrov noted that transplants from deceased children are currently banned under Russian law.
Petrov said that the basic criteria for organ donation from children will be the consent of the parents, working with both doctors and psychologists.
The deputy also recognized that the new law could provoke objections of a religious nature, and stated that the ethical ramifications of the new law would be discussed at the upcoming World Russian Synod, which starts Nov. 1.