HOTA: Opt Out and You are Marked...!
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No, I won't donate
But do you know what you're doing?
HUMAN ORGAN TRANSPLANT ACT: MOH data shows that young are opting out
April 18, 2007
THIS is the time of year when those turning 21 will be told that they are old enough to decide whether they want to donate their organs.
They will get a letter from the Ministry of Health via registered mail.
Those who are 21 are also in the age group (21 to 29) which has the highest number of people opting out of the Human Organ and Transplant Act (Hota).
An MOH spokesman said that of the more than 10,000 people who opted out between 1 Jul 2004 and 31 Mar 2007, over 4,400 were in the 21 to 29 age group. (See table.)
But do they know that by doing so, they are kicking themselves down to the bottom of the class?
Those who opt out will be given lower priority for donor organs if they ever need one.
Do they also know that they will deprive another person of a chance at life if the unexpected were to happen to them?
Today, there are more than 600patients waiting for an organ transplant in Singapore.
The demand for cadaveric organs for transplant continues to increase rapidly.
About 15 patients die each year waiting for a liver and about three patients die each year waiting for a heart.
In July 2004, Hota was amended to state that kidneys, livers, hearts and corneas suitable for transplant may be removed from all Singaporeans and permanent residents upon their death, unless they have opted out.
Only Muslims are exempted. They must opt in if they want to donate their organs.
In a New Paper poll of 150people aged 21 to 29 years, 25 said they would opt out.
They were asked the following questions:
1. Would you opt out now? Why?
2. Have any of you opted in before the age of 21? Why?
3. Do you talk about it among your friends?
4. What is the main concern you have?
Of those who said that they would opt out, the main reason was that they were just not comfortable about the idea of giving away their organs.
None of them opted in before the age of 21. And only 32 had discussed the issue with friends and family.
Mr Benny Tan, an undergraduate who is turning 21 this year, said: 'I will opt out because I do not know how my organs will help others, whether it will be beneficial to the right people.
'There is the possibility that my organs may land up in a bad person's body.'
Ms Jennifer Chew, 26, a business consultant, said: 'I don't think of the issue a lot because I'm still young and have no health problems.
'If I need an organ, I would probably travel overseas and buy one or get a loved one to donate.'
She argued that if she was really at death's door, no one would 'jian si bu jiu' (Mandarin for seeing someone dying and refusing to help).
But isn't that exactly what she's doing to others by opting out?
'I will probably be more willing to donate one kidney to someone dear to me than sign away my organs to strangers,' she said.
One of her concerns, which was echoed by many others, was that their organs might be harvested before they are really dead.
Ms Chew said: 'If I stay in, doctors might be more willing to declare me dead in order to harvest my organs in the optimum time. What if I'm not really dead? I can't get over that.'
Ms May Yeo, 27, an accountant, said: 'I just don't feel it's right for me. In the old system, I would be one of those who would not opt in.
'Now, I have to be one of those who would opt out. Things would have been easier for me in the old system.
'It's a decision that I've recently made because I don't like the idea of my body being incomplete and cut up when I die.'
Among those who would not opt out - thankfully still the majority - a top reason for most was apathy.
Said Mr Boh Xun Hui, 21, a student: 'From the way they implement it, it is troublesome to opt out of the scheme.
'Anyway, I don't mind donating my organs. If you need organs one day, you would also hope people will donate them to you.'
Mr Lim Lian Kiat, 21, a student, is worried that he might change his mind.
He said: 'I have yet to reply the letter. My main concern currently is the inability to change my decision should something happen, like if I end up in a coma after an accident. (Then) it will be too late.'
Mr Bernard Tan, 28, a research analyst, also has fears - about going into the hospital and not coming out alive.
He said: 'I recently had a procedure done in hospital. In the middle of the night, when I was in a bit of pain, the thought occurred to me that if something were to happen, and I had not opted out, doctors might not fight so hard to save me in order to harvest my organs.'
An MOH spokesman said that a person who is brain dead is truly and unequivocally dead.
'A person who is brain dead will never wake up nor regain consciousness. And there are extremely stringent safeguards in place to ensure mistakes don't happen,' said the spokesman.
'The Ministry's theme for Hota has always been that it's a 'gift of life', because we recognise that it is a gift by the individual who has the potential to save lives.'
The question for those who opt out remains: What to do if you are at the bottom of the list for donor organs when you most need one?
Not everyone will be able to go abroad to buy an organ.
Not everyone will have a loved one willing to donate a kidney or part of a liver.
Mr Bernard Tan said: 'Would it be too late for me to opt back in then?'
It might well be.
'So I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't? Maybe I will think about it a bit more. If I can get over my fear, I will stay in,' he said. -
so much for public education
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seriously, what "priority" will we get if we opt in?
We still have to be in the queue. -
it was a noble cause, until HOTA started snatching organs from ppl.
Yesterday newspaper about a 19 years old who survived with a heart transplant also was another attempt to make HOTA look good after the fiasco caused by the brain dead dude. -
Everyone go watch "Turistas", that's how organ removal is done when you're still alive and kicking.
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I don't even bother to reply...
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I wasn't even sent a mailer.
Anyway, things work like this in singapore. Silence means consent. Anybody read today's news about the family uninformed about the en-bloc sale? -
not only should you apply to opt-out, remember to let your family keep a photocopy of the card once you get it, juz in case
Potential organ donor was wrongly declared brain-dead -
em why are Muslims not included?
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yea, why arent muslim included?
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same reason why they aren't supposed to be cremated. religion. they're muslims.
i don't know the specifics though. -
den does that mean muslim also will get less priority as the same to those whom opt out?
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Originally posted by menoob:yea, why arent muslim included?
Should be something to do with their religious beliefs. Meanwhile, waiting for a Muslim to kindly inform us why.Originally posted by pierre^^:em why are Muslims not included?
But I agree on the marking. Tic for tac. -
Somehow I cannot reconcile the fact that when a person opts out of donation, he will be placed on a lower priority as compared to the others who opt in or rather stay in. There could be numerous doubts in our minds. And then how about the decision to stay-in purely as "insurance" that you may need the donation one day? I think it is not a good attitude like that..... Like being :forced" to stay-in....
One point of concern is that how many who stay in actually know they can opt out? Those who receive mailers and can read - yes. How about the others?
I have no ready solution to the problem but I cannot accept it at face value when they say that they will ensure zero mistakes. How many times zero mistakes situations have given rise to problems? More than once is already intolerable. Do we claim a zero mistake medical industry right now? I doubt so.... -
Muslims need to be buried whole. I heard that Muslims women would retain their placenta after childbirth to be buried....
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Opt out forms can be obtained at polyclinics or government hospitals.
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ahem
^^ is a copyright item
prepared to get my lawyer letter
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Muslims are not cremated. They pass away, they have to die as a whole.. No organs missing et al...If they have procelain veneers or gold teeth or pacemakers, they are taken out prior to burial. It's part of the religion and it's as essential and fathomable as the Trinity are to Christians as a whole.
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That's essentially what's wrong with our country. Everything is run on an all-or-nothing basis. I do not trust and will not trust a ministry spokesperson or even the minister to say that there are zero mistakes. They have not inspired trust in me at all.Originally posted by helpdesk^^:Somehow I cannot reconcile the fact that when a person opts out of donation, he will be placed on a lower priority as compared to the others who opt in or rather stay in. There could be numerous doubts in our minds. And then how about the decision to stay-in purely as "insurance" that you may need the donation one day? I think it is not a good attitude like that..... Like being :forced" to stay-in....
One point of concern is that how many who stay in actually know they can opt out? Those who receive mailers and can read - yes. How about the others?
I have no ready solution to the problem but I cannot accept it at face value when they say that they will ensure zero mistakes. How many times zero mistakes situations have given rise to problems? More than once is already intolerable. Do we claim a zero mistake medical industry right now? I doubt so....
I will decide where my organs go to, not any stat board. You cannot have your cake and eat it. The current media blitz in the New Paper by the MOH is simply a result of an increasing number of people opting out. One must understand that opting out of HOTA DOES NOT MEAN you are against ORGAN DONATION. It simply means that you retain CONTROL over who and what you choose to donate. We cannot use the language of efficiency when we deal with dying patients. It is anathema to the Hippocratic Oath. -
Its fair isnt it? Cmon dun tell me you opt out and still expect to be first in the queue?So many people needs organs every day and since you choose not to be in the policy, and they inform you while you are healthy that you will not be prioritised and you made your choice, why complain? Its like you buy the cheapest ticket and expect to sit in the most expensive seats?
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Asking this is like why women do not need to serve NS.Originally posted by pierre^^:em why are Muslims not included?
The main reason is due to religious beliefs.
But how they identify muslims? Not all of the same race mah.... -
You see, the whole stupid thing about THE WAY the minsitry enforces HOTA, is this:
>> If you OPT IN, ok, so you are given priority in receiving an organ should you need one (touch wood..), but at the same time, if you are critically ill and are likely to die, what's your priority then? Let you quickly die so that your organs can go to someone waiting urgently for them?? What PRINCIPLE is this???
>> but if you OPT OUT, they say you are not given priorty should you need an organ transplant. You may end up waiting till die.
I mean, hey man, how sure is the HOTA to ensure me or us an organ when one is needed? Also, how much does one pay the Hospital for a transplant? Is the organ FREE? Is the transplant procedure FREE??
So in the above, do you see any POSITIVITY in this HOTA??? Or does it look like ALOTA crap?? Because either way, you farking likely DIE!!! But if you have money, you can bypass all this crap and get your organ elsewhere through private hospitals - unless of course, the gov monopolizes humna organs as well... -
Now you know how the criminals ruling this place operate. You're blackmailed in just about every sense imaginable - and people think we're a society free of organised crime...Originally posted by ShutterBug:Ms Jennifer Chew, 26, a business consultant, said: 'I don't think of the issue a lot because I'm still young and have no health problems.
'If I need an organ, I would probably travel overseas and buy one or get a loved one to donate.'
She argued that if she was really at death's door, no one would 'jian si bu jiu' (Mandarin for seeing someone dying and refusing to help).
But isn't that exactly what she's doing to others by opting out?
'I will probably be more willing to donate one kidney to someone dear to me than sign away my organs to strangers,' she said.
One of her concerns, which was echoed by many others, was that their organs might be harvested before they are really dead.
Ms Chew said: 'If I stay in, doctors might be more willing to declare me dead in order to harvest my organs in the optimum time. What if I'm not really dead? I can't get over that.'
Ms May Yeo, 27, an accountant, said: 'I just don't feel it's right for me. In the old system, I would be one of those who would not opt in.
'Now, I have to be one of those who would opt out. Things would have been easier for me in the old system.
'It's a decision that I've recently made because I don't like the idea of my body being incomplete and cut up when I die.'
Among those who would not opt out - thankfully still the majority - a top reason for most was apathy.
Said Mr Boh Xun Hui, 21, a student: 'From the way they implement it, it is troublesome to opt out of the scheme. -
Originally posted by ShutterBug:You see, the whole stupid thing about THE WAY the minsitry enforces HOTA, is this:
>> If you OPT IN, ok, so you are given priority in receiving an organ should you need one (touch wood..), but at the same time, if you are critically ill and are likely to die, what's your priority then? Let you quickly die so that your organs can go to someone waiting urgently for them?? What PRINCIPLE is this???
How do you know they want you to die quickly? Dun look at the world with suspicion just because you had a tragic childhood. Opting in is not about having the priority at all. With so many people waiting in line, there has to be priorities, my friend.
>> but if you OPT OUT, they say you are not given priorty should you need an organ transplant. You may end up waiting till die.
Yes could be true. But hey, they did give you enough time to make an informed decision didnt they? You did know this could happen if you opt out. And why do you think there are people out there who waited for an organ till they died? PRECISELY because of people like you who OPTS OUT and deprives a person who is dying the need for an organ.
I mean, hey man, how sure is the HOTA to ensure me or us an organ when one is needed? Also, how much does one pay the Hospital for a transplant? Is the organ FREE? Is the transplant procedure FREE??
If an organ is available and you are next in line, they will give it ot you. But too many people opt out, not enough organs, you ask them to give you what?
So in the above, do you see any POSITIVITY in this HOTA??? Or does it look like ALOTA crap?? Because either way, you farking likely DIE!!! But if you have money, you can bypass all this crap and get your organ elsewhere through private hospitals - unless of course, the gov monopolizes humna organs as well... -
its call legalized crime.Originally posted by walesa:Now you know how the criminals ruling this place operate. You're blackmailed in just about every sense imaginable - and people think we're a society free of organised crime...