SINGAPORE: Singapore is standing firm against organ trading, even if it may save more lives, said Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Khaw said aside from ethical issues, many find the idea degrading and repulsive.

He said: "On and off, there have been suggestions that organs be traded to address the issue of organ shortage. Recently, the idea has again generated much debate among Singaporeans. Some support the concept, citing the effectiveness of such a market mechanism in increasing the supply. However, even from a purely practical point of view, the matter is not so simple. Thus we have blood donations but not sales of human blood, because allowing sales of human blood encourage the wrong sort of people to come forward.

"Furthermore, many people in Singapore and elsewhere instinctively find the idea of trading human organs degrading and repulsive. Organ trading is not purely a utilitarian issue, but also one that raises difficult ethical problems. One of these is its likely impact on the poor, both as donors and recipients.

"Hardly any country in the world has legalised organ trading, though grey markets often exist. We will continue to monitor developments in other countries, including the feasibility of ethical trading. However, as these difficult problems are not likely to be resolved soon, the Ministry has no plan to change our rule."

The recent case of a confrontation between family members and hospital staff when doctors tried to remove a dead man's organs for transplant was also brought up.

The impasse had lasted nearly three hours and sparked off fresh debate over the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA).

While Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan empathised with what the man's family members were going through, he said the wishes of the dead should also be respected.

Mr Khaw said: "The donor was (probably) around 21 or 22 when HOTA was introduced in this House. I remember there was widespread public debate. He was an educated man. I'm sure he was fully aware of HOTA and the fact that if he did not opt out, it would mean that he wanted to save lives in the event of a sudden death. So we should respect their wishes."

MP Lim Wee Kiak asked if more could be done to educate the public about HOTA.

He said: "You have to explain it in a recurring manner, almost like a Celebrate Organ Donation day per year."

"Yes, we'll do so. But our communication experts advise us that this is not the time to start. Let the emotions calm down a little bit but definitely we have to do it regularly," said the Health Minister.

Currently, all Singaporeans receive an information booklet on HOTA when they turn 21.


- CNA/so