No, I won't donate
But do you know what you're doing?
HUMAN ORGAN TRANSPLANT ACT: MOH data shows that young are opting
out
April 18, 2007
THIS is the time of year when those turning 21 will be told that
they are old enough to decide whether they want to donate their
organs.
They will get a letter from the Ministry of Health via registered
mail.
Those who are 21 are also in the age group (21 to 29) which has the
highest number of people opting out of the Human Organ and
Transplant Act (Hota).
An MOH spokesman said that of the more than 10,000 people who opted
out between 1 Jul 2004 and 31 Mar 2007, over 4,400 were in the 21
to 29 age group. (See table.)
But do they know that by doing so, they are kicking themselves down
to the bottom of the class?
Those who opt out will be given lower priority for donor organs if
they ever need one.
Do they also know that they will deprive another person of a chance
at life if the unexpected were to happen to them?
Today, there are more than 600patients waiting for an organ
transplant in Singapore.
The demand for cadaveric organs for transplant continues to
increase rapidly.
About 15 patients die each year waiting for a liver and about three
patients die each year waiting for a heart.
In July 2004, Hota was amended to state that kidneys, livers,
hearts and corneas suitable for transplant may be removed from all
Singaporeans and permanent residents upon their death, unless they
have opted out.
Only Muslims are exempted. They must opt in if they want to donate
their organs.
In a New Paper poll of 150people aged 21 to 29 years, 25 said they
would opt out.
They were asked the following questions:
1. Would you opt out now? Why?
2. Have any of you opted in before the age of 21? Why?
3. Do you talk about it among your friends?
4. What is the main concern you have?
Of those who said that they would opt out, the main reason was that
they were just not comfortable about the idea of giving away their
organs.
None of them opted in before the age of 21. And only 32 had
discussed the issue with friends and family.
Mr Benny Tan, an undergraduate who is turning 21 this year, said:
'I will opt out because I do not know how my organs will help
others, whether it will be beneficial to the right people.
'There is the possibility that my organs may land up in a bad
person's body.'
Ms Jennifer Chew, 26, a business consultant, said: 'I don't think
of the issue a lot because I'm still young and have no health
problems.
'If I need an organ, I would probably travel overseas and buy one
or get a loved one to donate.'
She argued that if she was really at death's door, no one would
'jian si bu jiu' (Mandarin for seeing someone dying and refusing to
help).
But isn't that exactly what she's doing to others by opting
out?
'I will probably be more willing to donate one kidney to someone
dear to me than sign away my organs to strangers,' she said.
One of her concerns, which was echoed by many others, was that
their organs might be harvested before they are really dead.
Ms Chew said: 'If I stay in, doctors might be more willing to
declare me dead in order to harvest my organs in the optimum time.
What if I'm not really dead? I can't get over that.'
Ms May Yeo, 27, an accountant, said: 'I just don't feel it's right
for me. In the old system, I would be one of those who would not
opt in.
'Now, I have to be one of those who would opt out. Things would
have been easier for me in the old system.
'It's a decision that I've recently made because I don't like the
idea of my body being incomplete and cut up when I die.'
Among those who would not opt out - thankfully still the majority -
a top reason for most was apathy.
Said Mr Boh Xun Hui, 21, a student: 'From the way they implement
it, it is troublesome to opt out of the scheme.
'Anyway, I don't mind donating my organs. If you need organs one
day, you would also hope people will donate them to you.'
Mr Lim Lian Kiat, 21, a student, is worried that he might change
his mind.
He said: 'I have yet to reply the letter. My main concern currently
is the inability to change my decision should something happen,
like if I end up in a coma after an accident. (Then) it will be too
late.'
Mr Bernard Tan, 28, a research analyst, also has fears - about
going into the hospital and not coming out alive.
He said: 'I recently had a procedure done in hospital. In the
middle of the night, when I was in a bit of pain, the thought
occurred to me that if something were to happen, and I had not
opted out, doctors might not fight so hard to save me in order to
harvest my organs.'
An MOH spokesman said that a person who is brain dead is truly and
unequivocally dead.
'A person who is brain dead will never wake up nor regain
consciousness. And there are extremely stringent safeguards in
place to ensure mistakes don't happen,' said the spokesman.
'The Ministry's theme for Hota has always been that it's a 'gift of
life', because we recognise that it is a gift by the individual who
has the potential to save lives.'
The question for those who opt out remains: What to do if you are
at the bottom of the list for donor organs when you most need
one?
Not everyone will be able to go abroad to buy an organ.
Not everyone will have a loved one willing to donate a kidney or
part of a liver.
Mr Bernard Tan said: 'Would it be too late for me to opt back in
then?'
It might well be.
'So I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't? Maybe I will think
about it a bit more. If I can get over my fear, I will stay in,' he
said.
