Muhammad Nor Idham Bin Abdullah, 16

School: Punggol School (Secondary)

Topic: An email to a classmate on your thoughts on pledging under MTERA and how to respectfully discuss organ donation with his parents.

Dear Matthew,

How have you been? Thank you for sharing your thoughts about pledging for organ donation and your plans to discuss it with your parents. After the school talk we had a few days ago, I agree that now is a good time to think about organ donation with your family, especially since we are almost eighteen. Hence, I respect your opinion in believing that pledging under MTERA is the right thing to do because it is your own decision. Please forgive me if I sound too serious, but I think organ donation is not something to be trifled with, as it can affect both yourself and those around you in ways you cannot imagine. Therefore, I would like to help you think through the issue and support you in having a discussion with your parents. Our previous discussion made me think deeply about organ donation, and I have gathered some thoughts that may help you when speaking to your parents.

To begin, I think it is important to understand the difference in intent between pledging under MTERA and remaining under HOTA. This can help you explain and justify your decision more clearly to your parents. By staying under HOTA, anyone who is 21 or older and mentally fit will automatically be included as a donor unless they choose to opt out. HOTA allows organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver and corneas to be recovered after death. Its main purpose is to provide organs for life-saving transplants, which can make a huge difference to patients and their families.

On the other hand, when you pledge under MTERA, individuals who are 18 or older can voluntarily choose to donate their organs or even their whole body. These donations are not only used for transplants, but can also support medical education and research, which may improve healthcare for future patients. In addition, if you pledge under MTERA, you still receive the same priority as HOTA donors on the transplant waiting list. Personally, I really believe pledging under MTERA is a meaningful choice because it allows your donation to benefit different fields instead of only transplants. I hope this explanation gives you a clearer understanding of the differences between MTERA and HOTA and helps you during your discussion with your parents.

Personally, I may feel uneasy about organ donation because I do not know who will receive my organs, which can create uncertainty. However, organ allocation is based on medical need and compatibility rather than the recipient’s identity or background, so there is no need for such concerns. At the same time, I want to help save lives, give my donation meaning and help someone live longer because of me. Therefore, I would not opt out of donating my organs because I believe it is a meaningful act.

I also understand why you and your parents may feel uncertain about this decision, as it is an important and personal matter. Rest assured, it is normal to have doubts about such an important and personal decision. Your family may have emotional concerns because thinking about donating organs after death can be difficult, especially for parents. Since we are still young, they may find it uncomfortable to talk about organ donation or the possibility of losing their child in the future. Furthermore, they may feel there is no urgency to discuss such matters at this stage of your life, especially if they have never seriously considered organ donation before.

Nevertheless, I understand if your family still has questions or doubts about organ donation. With that in mind, I would like to share some common myths about organ donation that I learned more about after doing some research. One common myth is that doctors will not try to save a patient if they know the person is a donor. This is one of the most common misconceptions that majority of donors believe. However, this is false because a doctor’s main duty is always to save lives. Organ donation is only considered after the donor has been legally declared dead. Therefore, you do not need to panic because doctors will not treat you differently simply because you are a donor. Another common myth is that only perfectly healthy people can donate organs. However, doctors assess each organ individually, and many people may still be able to donate even if they are not completely healthy.

As organ donation involves sensitive topics such as life and death, it is understandable that your parents may feel emotional during the conversation. Therefore, it is important to approach the discussion respectfully and avoid saying anything that may unintentionally hurt or upset them. When speaking to your parents, always be mindful of their feelings. Although they may agree that organ donation is a good deed, they may still find discussions about death emotionally difficult, especially because it concerns you directly. In addition, listen carefully to your parents even if you disagree with them, because they are only worried about you and just want the best for you, considering you are their only child. You can say something simple such as, “I respect your opinion and would like to know how you feel.” You should also avoid turning the discussion into an argument. Stay calm when sharing your thoughts so that your parents will be more willing to understand. If the conversation becomes argumentative, your parents may become distrustful and stop valuing your opinions. This makes the whole conversation futile.

Matthew, I truly admire your willingness to discuss organ donation with your parents at such a young age. I believe you will now feel more confident speaking to them about your choice between MTERA and HOTA. I firmly believe your parents will be understanding and will appreciate your willingness to think carefully about such an important issue. If you ever need support, you can always email me or speak to me during recess. Once again, thank you for asking for my thoughts on organ donation. Wishing you all the best.

Cheers,
Idham

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)