Kwok Lin Hui, 17

School: Dunman High School

Topic: Increasing discussion on organ donation

Award: High Distinction, Open Category, 2022

The Weight of our Words

Living, breathing, seeing— Gifts that life has given us. Yet, it is taken for granted because we do not understand the fragility of our lives. We do not realize how blessed we are to live until the gift of life is being stripped away from us. When we suddenly become uncertain if our next breath would be our last. When we worry that the next time we wake up, there will be complete darkness. As inevitable it is to prevent all these, there is still hope in preventing it from happening to others: organ donation.

Organ donation involves both life and death. It is a connection between the two. Those pronounced as brain dead donate their organs to others and give them another chance at life. In other words, the essence of organ donation is that death can give many another chance at life. (It is also possible to donate certain organs when we are alive) Organ donation is, however, rarely discussed. In Singapore, under the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA), four organs, namely the kidneys, liver, heart and corneas, can be recovered in the event of death for transplantation. The organs will give patients with organ failure another chance at life. All Singaporeans and Permanent Residents who turn 21 years of age and who are not mentally disordered will be covered under the Act. Those who choose to remain under HOTA will have a higher priority in receiving an organ if they need a transplant in the future.

The unspoken consent to organ donation could have caused an inclination to remain passive towards the issue. Some people may deem it as an unnecessary and awkward topic to discuss given that it implies the condition of their death. Moreover, given that only up to 1% of registered donors become eligible for organ donation, a few might think that such a discussion is futile. Nevertheless, the fact remains that an average of 20 people die everyday because an organ is not available in time. Hence, it is detrimental that organ donation is discussed properly at an individual and community level. Organ donation is important as there is a growing need for organ transplantation but a dwindling number of eligible organ donors each year. In addition, the organ shortage is exacerbated by an ageing population and a rise in civilisation diseases in Singapore.

Within families, organ donation should be discussed to dispel any misunderstandings about it and ensure that the decision is followed through even after death. Without discussing and giving explicit consent to donating our organs, it could cause severe family distress when we pass away as they may feel that our post-mortem dignity is being undermined. Furthermore, at the time of emotional turmoil and intense grief, the victims’ family are often unable to confront organ donation and would likely prefer to opt out.

Discussing organ donation has the potential to promote greater awareness of the issue and highlight the desperate need for organ transplant in our society. By doing so, we normalise the prospect of organ donation as we are more open towards it. When we align and exchange our views on organ donation with others, we are able to clear underlying stereotypes such as “doctors not trying as hard to save the life of an eligible organ donor” or that “there are enough organs available for those who need them”. Communication greatly improves how people feel about organ donation. By engaging in discussions about organ donation, we are also better able to organise our own thoughts and be more assured about putting faith into organ donation. We understand the possible outcomes and effects of organ donation, after listening to multiple peoples’ perspectives on organ donation. This makes us more knowledgeable and empathizing towards others. Hence, we make the choice more confidently.

On an individual level, we can make a difference by building up our knowledge on organ donation to adequately convey accurate information to others when discussing the topic. The large portion of misunderstanding towards organ donation comes from the spread of false or misinterpreted information. This can be damaging towards the already unpopular topic of organ donation. We might not be able to demystify all misconceptions, but we can surely avoid doing so by being accountable for our words.

Voluntarily becoming an advocate for organ donation could help to inspire more people to do the same through influencing and spreading awareness of organ donation to others. By starting from small but meaningful actions such as bringing up the topic of organ donation to friends and family, we can slowly progress towards influencing others on a larger scale by giving public speeches. If we incorporate the topic of organ donation into our daily conversations, one day, its importance would integrate into our society as well.

Guiding friends and family in decision making and explaining organ donation to them would alleviate their worries knowing that there are people supporting them. Organ donation can be a complex and abstract concept to most. After all, people rarely mention organ donation unless it is necessary. This passiveness towards organ donation would leave them unprepared to make a decision when their family member or themselves have to make a hastened decision on whether to donate. Therefore, it is better to decide with our family members early and ensure that everyone comes to a consensus so that the decision can be carried out respectfully and smoothly.

At a community level, besides spreading awareness about organ donation, we can also encourage people to discuss it with their family. As more people become well informed about organ donation, encouraging them to initiate conversations would be a pivotal step in developing compassion for organ transplantation in our society. Ways to increase publicity may include mailing brochures to households in Singapore every year, extending outreach to social media users through promoting on frequently used social media apps or organising more campaigns to a wider range of audience.

Aiming to promote awareness about organ donation among people first requires us to understand their views. Therefore, dialogue sessions play an integral role in shaping society’s perspective. Speaking to a healthcare professional about organ donation will bring assurance to those who are hesitating on whether to donate their organs. It also ensures that reliable information is passed on to others.

Knowledge about organ donation can be built from a young age. In primary schools, students can start to learn about organ donation through their regular curriculum. Lessons do not have to go in-depth about the organ donation process as sharing stories about organ donors and shedding light on organ donation is sufficient for familiarising the students with organ donation. This way, it cultivates a mature and learned mindset towards organ donation so that in the future, people are able to bring forth ideas and share meaningful conversations about organ donation with each other.

Including more media coverage on organ donation can help people to understand it with much greater ease. To some people, organ donation is a foreign and complicated concept to grasp. This is understandable, given that it is a product of recent advancements in science and technology. Certain terms used in explaining organ donation and policies that have been changed a few times, may have made it confusing for some. Hence, media outlets such as news channels can aid in providing more information about organ donation that is comprehensive to anyone. This would engage more people to discuss organ donation and help establish deeper understanding towards the issue.

All in all, organ donation is not only a medical or health issue, but a social one as well. Enhancing people’s knowledge about organ donation would create a conducive societal climate for organ donation to be conversed about. However, organ donation need not be an issue that is frequently discussed. What matters is that society is open and cognizant of organ donation because our choice might save someone’s life.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2022 are those of the participants and are not endorsed by the National Organ Transplant Unit (Ministry of Health). To learn more about organ donation and organ transplantation in Singapore, please visit www.liveon.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab)