Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia:
Even though hundred thousand of people have pledged to donate their organs to those in need, the problem arise when the next-of-kin disagreed. As a result those who needed the organs continue to suffer.
Organ donation is still a very sensitive issue here in Malaysia. Our mindset it seemed is still many decades behind. To make matters worse, there is still no law on organ donation around.
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, The Chairman Of The Health Ministry’s Sub-Committee On Organ Donation, told the New Straits Times that oftentimes Nurses and Doctors were accused of being cruel and insensitive when they wanted to harvest the donor’s organs.
Lee felt that more talks and seminars should be held to educate the Malaysian on the benefits of honoring somebody’s pledge. When a person is declared dead and the next-of-kin are notifed,this is also the most appropriate time to harvest the organ that has been pledged.
However, this is also the time of deep grief and in such state of mind no persuasion can make grieving members change their mind.
So what now for Malaysian patients? Mr Lee told the press that community and religious leaders will be involved in educating members of the public on organ donation.
Meanwhile, those in need of organs such as lungs and hearts will have to wait, and wait.