抄録
No legislative measures have been taken to help patients and families suffering from malignant and serious diseases for three main reasons:
(1) The Japanese government was reluctant to pass laws from such legislative measures.
(2) Patient groups were reluctant to have such laws due to apprehension about their disadvantages.
(3) Although the Democratic Party of Japan worked to pass such laws, the political climate under the Koizumi cabinet did not allow politicians to deliberate on such bills, due to many political problems.
