Organ Trading

Read the on-going debate in the Straits Times. Personally, I think it's permissible, but it's a very thin line indeed. In the long run, it's not beneficial to allow people to sell their organs. And I think Minister Khaw must have thought through carefully, when he said that the law was "crystal clear". Everything may be permissible, but not everything is beneficial.

1. The main argument for allowing organ trading is that it saves lives. But consider the poll in the Straits Time: Almost everyone wants to buy an organ if they need one, but almost none are willing to sell theirs. This indicates, that deep down, nobody wants to sell, unless they REALLY have to do so.

So, we need to ask: What would make people desperate enough to sell their precious organs? Secondly, how did they get into that dire situation in the first place?

If a person is so poor that he/she has to sell his/her spare kidney... or do a risky operation to sell part of the liver... then we need to address the very situation that caused that situation. Poverty. Which is frankly a tractable problem in the first place.

In short: No one should ever have to sell his/her organs to alleviate his/her poverty.

2. But then, what about the receiver? Anyone, when dying for want of a good organ, would be willing to pay almost any price possible to save his/her own life. To be real, it is a very difficult issue that has no easy measure. However, we can at least ensure that it is fair - both to the rich and the poor. If the rich are able to jump ahead of the poor in the wait for transplants, then what can the poor do but wait even longer?

At least, at this present time in our society - when it comes to this aspect of medicine - we are all equally needy. Organ failure is bad enough - let's not make it worse.

3. Finally, how do we prevent rip-offs from happening? And how do we prevent exploitations, scams and even murders to harvest organs from happening?

The short answer is: It's not possible. Not unless we have a blanket ban on organ-selling. Minister Khaw is right on this point.

In conclusion, people have been arguing for the easier way of allowing organ-selling. But shall we take the harder right, or the easier wrong? Let's choose the better way (even though it is harder) of encouraging and helping people to sign their organs up for donation after death. As a Christian, I believe such generosity is bound to be remembered and graciously rewarded by God in the life to come... :)

Everyone's going to die, sooner or later. So why not leave your organs behind, so that others may live and not leave?

Personally... I'm thankful for the HOTA. I'm opting in for sure, not opting out. :)