Itzhak Sullam, Israel’s first heart transplant patient, continued to improve today and was no longer being fed intravenously although he had not regained consciousness, it was reported from Bielinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah. The report said that beginning today he was taking nourishment directly. Neurologists who examined the 41-year-old patient said his state of unconsciousness may continue for several days without harm to his body.
A proposal to lay down legal rules for heart transplant operations was presented to the Cabinet today by Dr. Josef Burg, Minister of Social Welfare, a member of the Orthodox National Religious Party. Dr. Burg said he thought rules were important because, the issue was too important to be fell the discretion of “professionals alone.” Another NRP member, Dr. Zerach Warhaftig, Minister of Affairs, proposed yesterday that a committee of rabbis and doctors should convene to on transplant cases.
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