Help People Overcome Organ Donation Fears Says Doctor

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Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye says cultural and religious factors remain key barriers, with public education key to overcoming them.Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye called for a clear fatwa from the Islamic authorities among measures to boost the number of organ donors.PETALING JAYA: The government will need to obtain the buy-in of Malaysians first if it intends to introduce an opt‑out system for organ donations, says a former deputy health minister
Dr Lee Boon Chye said there were cultural and religious barriers that made the public apprehensive about becoming organ donors, and public education was key to overcoming these obstacles.
An opt‑out system for organ donation, in which a person would be presumed to be an organ donor unless they actively opted out, was proposed recently by the Galen Centre think tank.
Dr Lee said an opt‑out system in Singapore allowed the next of kin to object to donating the organs of their loved ones.
“Consent from relatives will still be required even if the deceased did not opt out,” he told FMT. “Public education and religious guidance is paramount to ensure public buy-in before the health ministry can embark on the legislation.”
Lee also called for greater publicity on the need for more people to become organ donors.
“Also, dialogues with religious leaders. There needs to be a clear fatwa from the Islamic authorities on organ donation. Most cultures, including the Chinese, do not favour organ donations, but the younger generations are changing,” said Dr Lee, who is PKR health bureau chairman.
While supportive of the move, he believed introducing such a system was not a priority right now as the health ministry had more pressing matters at hand.
Galen Centre CEO Azrul Khalib said an opt-out system could save thousands of lives by significantly reducing the waiting list of over 10,000 patients in need of transplants.
The Malaysian Medical Association said further studies will need to be held on the proposal, adding that greater awareness was key to boosting the number of donors.
MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said greater education, community engagement and outreach events would be able to help Malaysians understand the process better as well as how organ donations can save lives.
“An opt-out system may require further study, as organ donation is a matter that involves personal, cultural, and religious considerations.
“We encourage Malaysians to seek accurate information and have open discussions with their families. Ultimately, it is a personal choice, but seeing the lives that can be saved may help them appreciate the impact of their decision,” he said. - FMT

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