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4 more bodies found on volcano as typhoon nears

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For the last three days it's called for nothing but rain all day in the Kansai area, and we've seen nothing at all of the like, with it being rather sunny for the most part, in fact. I hope and pray that it at worst is cloudy and maybe a little windy so that efforts are not further hampered. I fear that if there is heavy rainfall and strong winds, with conditions as they are on the volcano, we'll see crazy ash and mudslides, and some if not all of the remaining victims will not be found as a result. I'm glad at least they could find a few more before they may have to give up.

As for the pronouncing people dead thing, I really think it's time for the system to change and offer medical and emergency services to provide more care -- from triage scenes to ambulances en route to hospitals -- and be able to pronounce people dead when it's clear they are. The fact that they have to explain why they can only pronounce people in week long cardiac and lung arrest because only a certified doctor can say they are dead is a little ridiculous at times, and embarrassing. Again that goes as well for being able to do more than just hold someone's hand in an ambulance while searching for an open hospital, but that's another topic.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Here we go again, this time from AFP: "Only doctors can declare someone officially dead, so first responders typically report that someone’s heart has stopped and they are not breathing."

In the west 35 people were reported dead almost immediately, some three or four days before the authorities in Japan finally started upping the figures from four dead. My question was why it took the doctors four or five days to confirm they were dead. Surely that should be obvious to laymen and medical staff alike.

The answer I was given was that pronouncement of death is easy, but that is not the real problem. Even doctors cannot legally pronounce death without a definitive cause of death on the certificate. What took four or five days was the autopsies, apparently.

A little ridiculous, smith? I agree.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I heard the reason that they were not pronounced dead on the mountain is because, in an emergency, the rescue helicopters should only take alive survivors. Because there are still people missing, they have to delay the pronouncement of death so they can take them back. Otherwise they would have to bring them back on foot, which is quite tricky on the terrain.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Only doctors can declare someone officially dead, so first responders typically report that someone’s heart has stopped and they are not breathing.

This bit is just... really, really silly.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

A little ridiculous, smith? I agree.

No more ridiculous that Western euphemisms that you've "lost" a loved one or they've "gone to be with the Lord" or they've "passed away" or are "on the other side" rather than saying the loved one is dead.

In Japan this distinction and delay until cause of death is determined is well understood. People know it means "dead." For AFP to explain it in the international press can only serve to broaden understanding of how things are done differently in different cultures. So what exactly is the problem? What exactly is ridiculous?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@ phily1 Someone with cardiac arrest is not biological death and can be brought back to life if recovery actions are taken fast enough. There are exact defined wordings. If someone has a cardiac arrest for a week and is not considered as death than it is either rediculous, or it is pointing to a serious problem in the medical education. At the bottom line, the government shall respect even death people and recover the body as soon a possible but giving priority to wounded or in other needs. Common sense.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I saw the SDF working first hand in Tohoku. Phenomenal is how I would describe them in what was an exceptionally thankless task. Let's hope that they are able to retrieve the remaining bodies so that all of the families can have some closure.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Based on my experience here, doctors don't pronounce soon because in many cases, they allow the family to get finances in order. Once a person is pronounce dead, the bank accounts get locked.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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