I REFER to the recent debate on the sale of human organs.
While there are many forms of organ transplant, kidney and liver
transplants would be the two most viable and much needed that would
be carried out under a legalised human-organ trade.
A check with the Ministry of Health website revealed that there are
approximately 600 people waiting for a kidney transplant every
year. Every year, patients die because they are unable to get a
suitable transplant.
The demand for organs is compounded by the shortage of organs.
Currently, under the Human Organ Transplant Act (Hota) and the
Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act (MTERA), cadaver
transplants are carried out. However, only 53 cadaver kidney
transplants were carried out in 2005. Even taking into account the
43 live-donor transplants, it still falls short of the required
number.
Already, many Singaporeans have gone overseas for transplants, and
the article, 'Allow the sale of human organs?' (ST, Jan 1
, mentioned that 'Singapore bans organ trading, but it
supports people who go elsewhere to buy an organ by giving them
subsidised drugs on their return.'
What are the implications here? When we are allowed to buy organs
overseas, why should we be disallowed from selling them?
What is the alternative solution to the problem of organ shortage,
if we are against the trade in human organs?
In my opinion, Singaporeans need to more willing to donate their
organs to those in need. They should not be opting out of Hota, and
should pledge their bone marrow more readily under the bone-marrow
transplant programme.
However, if cadaver organs are still insufficient even if no one
opted out of Hota and all Singaporeans opted into MTERA, do we
still have reason to ban organ trading while patients continue to
die every year, and some Singaporeans go overseas to buy organs for
transplant?
Chew Yun Zhi
