Cheow Zhi Xin, 16

School: Chung Cheng High School

Topic: Are conversations about death necessary to encourage organ donation?

“Conversations about death are necessary to encourage organ donation.” How far would you agree?

Death is an omnipresent shadow lurking in the corners we fear peering into, yet it is the one destination you and I are certain to meet. It seeps into our everyday lives, a relentless reminder, yet we exclude it from our conversations to bypass discomfort. However, death is something no one wins a battle against, and nor does avoidance prevent mortality. Silence is unheard and thus offers no protection. If so, why do we dread talking about it? Conversations are the soil in which mutual understanding and respect flourish, leading to decisions grounded in both. Even more so, they challenge us to understand ourselves from the inside out and make decisions that resonate with our core values. It is no wonder that we have such a deep connection with these parts of our body, both physically and mentally. In a way, we are indebted to our organs for allowing life itself. The heart pumps, the lungs respire, the kidneys filter, the liver detoxifies, and the brain governs. Altogether, they tirelessly pave the pathways for life to flow through every single one of us. Only when we accept the truth that these pathways can be broken anytime and approach death through healthy communication, can we then decide what to do next. Conversations about death are necessary to encourage organ donation as they help us navigate complex emotions, foster mutual respect, and bridge conflicting views.

To start, conversations on death aid us in navigating overwhelming feelings tied to organ donation. Organ donation is not only symbolic of “the giving of life” but also symbolises humanity. Just like a regenerating piece of liver, it is an ever-growing spirit, evoking various emotions from the donor, the donor’s loved ones, and the recipient. In the case of pre-discussed decisions to donate their organs after death, donors feel deeply proud of extending one final helping hand into the world. For the donors’ families, they often find comfort in knowing that their loved one’s death has helped improve the life of someone else, that death has not taken away a sense of purpose. On the recipient’s end, they are overwhelmed with gratitude and indebtedness for a second chance at life. In the case where families have not yet discussed the topic, however, sudden death and organ donation can trigger uncertainty and ambivalence. Organ donation is highly time-sensitive, requiring swift decision-making and transplantation to avoid irreversible cell damage and losing viable organs. As a result, many families face pressured decision-making under grief and are weighed down by the guilt of accepting the donation of their loved ones’ organs without knowing their true wishes. A simple yet effective way we can reduce such a heavy burden on one another when the time comes is to communicate about the topic as early as possible. Clarity is a departing gift. Before death separates us, we owe it to our loved ones as a final act of altruism to communicate our wishes clearly and trust them to carry out as such, shielding them against uncertainty and consequent post-decision guilt. Hence, conversations regarding death allow families to honour their loved ones’ desires, easing the complex and emotional journey of organ donation.

Beyond emotional support, talking about death helps us find mutual respect in decision-making. Perspectives are highly subjective and should also be highly respected. Death is a solitary activity; thus, everyone bears the responsibility and right to make their own decisions of what follows. Post-death procedures should not burden the living but instead be a respectful honouring of the deceased’s wishes. Transplants Informative System, the Italian Ministry of Health, and the Regional Transplants Centre (Lazio) conducted a study on 291 brain-dead patients eligible as organ donors. Data showed that families who discussed more topics and families who had more contact with medical staff were more likely to accept organ donations. This suggests that prior communication can lessen uncertainty and instil confidence in times of hardship, helping to finalise decisions. This study tells us how communication between not just families, but also between medical staff and loved ones of donors, promotes the exchange of insightful information like personal values crucial to decision-making. The conclusions reinforce the essentiality for conversations involving death and organ donation, ultimately shaping decisions. It is no doubt that encouraging organ donation requires an approach of profound respect, especially when faced with death. By approaching the sensitive topic through respectful conversations, we show authenticity in our beliefs and lay out the foundation of mutual validation. As a result, empathy blossoms and allows people to reach a deeper understanding of one another, arriving at a respectful consensus. Hence, conversations on death open doorways to mutual understanding, helping to foster a decision that respects all parties.

Finally, we link contradictory ideas on organ donation through conversing about death. Differing viewpoints exist not as a base for conflict, but to allow them to converge into one. The topic on organ donation sparks controversy because it is a highly individualistic, yet impactful decision characterised by one’s own experiences and beliefs. Searches conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and various other relevant articles identified conflicting views faced by organ donors’ families. Positive sentiments include “letting the donor live on” and “saving a life” that make the decision seem worthwhile. On the other hand, contradictory sentiments include “medical mistrust” and “preserving bodily integrity” that oppose organ donation. A donor’s next-of-kin holds the secondary right, after the donor, to make what they think is the best decision after considering personal values. Instead of attempting to coerce, we should encourage organ donation through empathy and provide a safe platform for new perspectives, which could in turn have a greater impact on inspiring others. Everyone lives life by their own differing rules and principles, and similarly, no two people view or experience death the same way. End-of-life discussions promote self-expression, redefine life itself and help us approach organ donation in our unique ways while bridging differing fundamental beliefs towards post-death procedures. Open dialogue is that bridge. Through healthy communication and instilling clarity in our desires, we trust family to honour them despite conflicting views. Therefore, conversations on death connect opposing viewpoints and lead to peaceful resolutions, paving the way for respectful discussions on organ donation.

Some may argue that holding conversations about death, especially with family, can lead to discomfort due to personal, familial and religious reasons. This sensitivity is understandable and can potentially discourage further discussion of donation altogether. Furthermore, in places where deeply entrenched religious and cultural beliefs firmly oppose organ donation, some argue that holding conversations may not be enough to encourage the procedure. This is also valid, as conversations alone do not hold enough power to uproot these beliefs of bodily integrity and self-preservation that span generations. While these limitations warrant reluctance, they do not undermine the importance of communication. Conversations may not be sufficient alone, but they are still essential in encouraging willingness to donate. By conveying our desires clearly to our next of kin, we decide how our own post-death procedures are to be carried out and lessen the burden on grieving families. While discomfort is legitimate, the long-term consequences of avoidance outweigh its temporary presence. At the same time, conversations act as a pivotal starting point of change and may open up minds to consider alternatively. Like how these cultural principles took decades to solidify, it also takes a gradual process to evolve them. Nonetheless, respectful communication is a key part to kickstarting this process and allowing more open discussions on organ donation. Therefore, despite such limitations, conversations with our loved ones remain crucial to combat confusion during critical times and foster informed decisions to respect and honour all wishes.

To reiterate, conversations are foundational in helping us make informed and timely organ donation decisions. Death is a path of grief and uncertainty, but by confronting it, we learn to welcome life beyond loss. To encourage organ donation, we ought to normalise open dialogue and approach it with sensitivity, respect and the intention to understand one another. Connection is the cure. Ultimately, only by accepting death as a part of life can we make space for open discussions on organ donation to ease emotional burden, honour wishes respectfully and reconcile opposing views, thereby increasing the willingness to donate. By breaking the silence, we reconstruct the pathways of life and enable them to flow with meaning, compassion and vitality.

References

1.    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1600613522254197 ↗ (opens in new tab)

2.    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041134516306923 ↗ (opens in new tab)

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2026 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)