Charis Tan Kai Xin, 16

School: Kent Ridge Secondary School

Topic: Little interest in organ donation is due to its complexity

Award: Special Mention, Senior Category, 2024

Are You Willing?

How willing are you to donate your organs to those in need? Well, all our organs are necessary for us to function properly without posing a threat to our health. There is no doubt that all our organs are essential for a comfortable life with no abnormal disruptions to our daily routine. Despite the importance of organs, people may have little interest regarding organ donation and transplantation. This lack of interest is not because it is a complex topic. It is rather because people are not willing to educate themselves and sacrifice their organs, especially with the possible health repercussions in the long run and their religious beliefs. All these factors influence people’s decision on whether to donate.

Firstly, people may have little interest in organ donation and transplantation because they are not willing to educate themselves on that topic. In our society today, organ donation and transplantation are not politically significant topics. Thus, governments do not focus on this topic, which reduces the exposure that people get. People may only gain more exposure to this topic when they visit hospitals, know someone who needs an organ, or has donated an organ, in which the chances are low. Additionally, people have many other priorities that are more important to them at their stage of life, so they are not bothered. Some of us are too preoccupied with our commitments, so we are not open to learning about organ donation and transplantation. For example, young seniors will prioritise their health, the well-being of their children and parents and their work commitments. Youths will focus on having fun and studying hard for a secure future. Youths, in particular, may not feel that this is relevant to them as they are still healthy and fit. People tend to take their organs for granted, as organs function 24/7 without any effort on our part. Thus, we tend to overlook their importance in helping the body function normally. Only when someone’s organ fails and they need a transplant do they actually make an effort to research this topic.

Secondly, people do not want to donate any of their organs while they are living because they are not willing to sacrifice their organs to a stranger, especially with the health repercussions that may accompany the removal of the organ. It comes as no surprise that with organ donation, you are required to undergo surgery where the risk of complications is high. As human beings, not everyone possesses a high level of empathy required to donate their organs to a stranger. For some, even donating an organ to a family member is considered a stretch. They deem the action of donating an organ not worth it if they were to fall ill in the future and require an organ transplant. Most people hold the same view as me in the past and have this preconceived notion that people will not be willing to donate an organ to them. However, that may not be necessarily true in Singapore as we have a mandatory scheme called the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA). Under HOTA, Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 21 and above are required to donate their organs unless they opt out of the scheme. If a person chooses to opt out of HOTA, they will not need to donate their organs in the event of death. However, if they happen to need an organ transplant, they will automatically be moved to the bottom of the priority list. Despite the fact that Singapore has the HOTA scheme, this does not apply to the majority of countries in the world. Thus, I can understand where people are coming from when they fear the outcome and future after donating an organ. Even if they perform an act of kindness for someone, it may not return back to them when they need it. The element of uncertainty that a potential donor faces is what causes the majority to be unwilling to donate when they are alive.

Thirdly, people may not be able to donate due to different beliefs that their religion holds. Different religions have varying beliefs that shape their moral values and guide them to make decisions that seem the most appropriate. Thus, when faced with the important decision of organ donation, they are likely to rely on their God to help them make that decision. Certain believers of Buddhism and Hinduism believe in the concept of Ahmisa where non-violence and respect for living things are of paramount importance. All these religious and cultural beliefs are deeply ingrained into the history of their religion. While most religions support organ donation, some may prioritise the beliefs of their religion first, and choose not to donate, which is understandable. There is a group of people, the Shintos who refuse to take organs from deceased donors despite its legality in Japan. This is due to their beliefs that a dead body is impure, the integrity of the dead body should be preserved and that injuring a dead body is a serious crime. All these beliefs shape the way they think and act with regard to organ donation. Thus, even when confronted with death, the devout Shintos who have rigid mindsets will not be willing to take an organ from a previously healthy deceased donor. As different religions hold different beliefs, it is important to respect them without imposing our opinions onto them.

Despite my views on why organ donation and transplantation is of little interest to some, there are people who feel otherwise, that complexity is the primary reason why people have little interest. It is commonly regarded that organ donation and transplantation is a topic which is complicated for the general public who are not medically trained. This is simply due to the complexity and intricacy of the medical procedures, transportation mode, ensuring that the organ is safely transplanted and the vast amount of information to process. People often get overwhelmed with the overload of information, even though, and when there are community outreach programs about organ donation and transplantation. There are just too many ethical, financial and medical factors to be taken into consideration when it comes to organ donation, which further adds to the complexity surrounding organ donation. However, there are technological advancements which simplifies the whole process. For example, the availability of wearable health devices can help to monitor organ donor’s vitals. Doctors can use this before and after the surgery to ensure the compatibility between the donor and receiver to reduce the chance of further complications. Additionally, 3D printing technology is used to create organ scaffolds to mimic the human organs by taking cells from the body to place onto the scaffold, and allowing them to grow into full-sized organs. Innovations like these will simplify the whole process, and give more clarity. With these advancements, it will help to reduce the time spent, providing a longer window period for the transportation of organs and many more! With all the advancements in technology being used simultaneously, this reduces the complexity of organ donation and transplantation as a whole.

Thus, I still stand by my point that the lack of interest is not the main factor. It is rather because people are not willing to educate themselves and sacrifice their organs, especially with the possible health repercussions in the long run and their religious beliefs. The complexity and other factors are valid reasons as to why people do not donate. However, that should not stop you from challenging your own perception of organ donation. At the end of the day, there’s only one question which remains: “Are you willing?”

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2024 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