Sanseito’s Leader Kamiya Calls for Self-funded End-of-Life Healthcare and ‘death with dignity’ Legislation

By Barrier Free Japan 

July 9 2025

Morioka City, Iwate Pref – During the ongoing campaign for the House of Councillors election, the political party Sanseito has drawn attention with a controversial pledge: that all medical expenses for life-sustaining treatment at the end of life should be entirely self-funded by patients or their families.

Sanseito party leader Sohei Kamiya clarified the policy’s intent on July 8 while campaigning in Morioka City. Speaking to reporters, Kamiya explained that the proposal was intended to raise public awareness about the financial realities of end-of-life care. “I included it with the intention of raising awareness,” he stated, “that it would be difficult if people don’t save up when they are facing their final moments.”

The policy specifically targets interventions such as gastric tubes and intravenous drips, which Sanseito views as examples of excessive life-prolonging measures. According to the party, these treatments are contributing to a sharp rise in Japan’s overall healthcare expenditures. Sanseito argues that these services should no longer be publicly funded in principle and should instead fall entirely under private, out-of-pocket payment.

Beyond the funding issue, Sanseito is also calling for the establishment of legislation to support death with dignity. The party advocates for a legal framework that both honors patient wishes and offers protection to medical professionals making end-of-life decisions. Sanseito asserts that, under the current legal structure, doctors may be reluctant to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment due to potential legal liabilities.

However, the proposal has drawn skepticism from within the current administration. At a press conference following a Cabinet meeting on the same day, Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Sukemaro Fukuoka responded cautiously. He emphasized that end-of-life medical care is a bioethical issue and one that requires careful, nationwide debate. “It is something that should be considered carefully,” he said.

Sanseito’s stance has sparked conversation around the role of personal responsibility, public funding, and ethical considerations in managing Japan’s aging population and rising healthcare costs. While the party frames the pledge as a step toward individual dignity and fiscal responsibility, its implications for vulnerable populations—including the elderly, disabled, and those without financial resources—remain the subject of intense discussion.