Selling or buying organs is illegal in Singapore and carries a penalty of up to 12 months’ jail time, or a fine of up to $7,405, or both. However, the Asian country is considering something radically new in an attempt to meet the needs of its citizens. The country is set to review the possibility of allowing its Health Ministry to legally compensate kidney donors in order to increase the number of available kidneys that are needed each year for those on transplant waiting lists. “There are desperate patients out there wishing to live and desperately poor people willing to exchange a kidney for a hopefully improved life,” said Khaw Boon Wan, Singapore’s Minister for Health. “We should not reject any idea just because it is radical or controversial. We may be able to find an acceptable way to allow a meaningful compensation for some living, unrelated kidney donors, without breaching ethical principles or hurting the sensitivities of others.” Each year hundreds of thousands die on organ transplant lists while waiting for organs that never arrive in time. Could Singapore pave the way to a possible solution? What do you think? Full story.
Tags: kidney transplant, organ donation, organ trade, organ transplant, singapore
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
To save lives of those who are desparately in need of kidney in order to live,there is need for singapore to allow those who would want to trade their kidneys to do so.its agony to see your fellow citizen struggling in pain when you can assist by donating.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Davy – I think this must be the case for many people in many countries. I’m interested to see how this turns out.