OPINION editor Chua Mui Hoong has highlighted the potential waste of organs that could save lives ("Organ donation: Wasted opportunity to save lives"; ST Online, March 15).
She quoted an earlier report ("Doctors have key role in organ donation"; March 9), which noted that: "To be usable, a liver has to be taken from the body before the heart stops beating. This means doctors must verify brain death in a patient and alert the transplant team."
This is something that many, including myself, who are not working in medical-related fields, find challenging to accept.
Many laymen find it hard to comprehend that a brain-dead person has left this world if the heart is still beating.
To many, death equates to the heart ceasing to beat.
In such cases, how would a person easily agree to the harvesting of his loved one's organs?
Mature adults will not say "no" to the use of their loved ones' organs to save someone else's life, if they are fully aware and have accepted that their loved ones are dying and are beyond any hope of recovery.
It is important to assure them that the harvesting of their loved ones' organs while the heart is still beating is not a form of hurt or destruction.
Instead, it is a final farewell gift from their loved ones.
Enhancing public education
on the Human Organ Transplant Act may be required to create greater awareness and
acceptance of organ donations and transplants.
This will reduce the potential waste of organs and save lives.
Lim Lih Mei (Ms)
She quoted an earlier report ("Doctors have key role in organ donation"; March 9), which noted that: "To be usable, a liver has to be taken from the body before the heart stops beating. This means doctors must verify brain death in a patient and alert the transplant team."
This is something that many, including myself, who are not working in medical-related fields, find challenging to accept.
Many laymen find it hard to comprehend that a brain-dead person has left this world if the heart is still beating.
To many, death equates to the heart ceasing to beat.
In such cases, how would a person easily agree to the harvesting of his loved one's organs?
Mature adults will not say "no" to the use of their loved ones' organs to save someone else's life, if they are fully aware and have accepted that their loved ones are dying and are beyond any hope of recovery.
It is important to assure them that the harvesting of their loved ones' organs while the heart is still beating is not a form of hurt or destruction.
Instead, it is a final farewell gift from their loved ones.
Enhancing public education
on the Human Organ Transplant Act may be required to create greater awareness and
acceptance of organ donations and transplants.
This will reduce the potential waste of organs and save lives.
Lim Lih Mei (Ms)
