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Call on the Malaysian Health Ministry to clarify its stand on organ transplantation in this country. Statement by Dr Tan Seng giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the media report that the Health Ministry threatens to act against surgeons who perform organ transplants from living donors if the operation goes wrong. 28.2.2003. | |||||||
| Organ tranplantation is impoortant. Hence, we need a policy that does not affect the development of this field. While acknowledging the sanctity of life and the sensitivity of society, we should not deny patients of organ transplantation. On 27 February, 2003, the New Straits times quoted the Malaysian Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohamad Taha Arif as saying that Government hospitals will not perform transplant of organs donated by living persons because of negative implications for both the donors and society. He has also been said as discouraging private hospitals from doing the same as it is against medical ethics. We would like the Health Ministry to come out with further clarification as to what it actually means. If the media report is true, then the Government has not handled the issue of transplant from live donors appropriately. We shall see more transplant surgeons finding alternatives including | |
emigrating to other countries as practised by the Malaysian liver surgeon Datuk Dr K C Tan who is based in Singapore. Today's Malay Mail headlines Datruk Dr Tan as stopping all operations in Malaysia as he 'can't work under threat.' If Tan Sri Mohamad Taha's ethical pronouncement is the official policy, not only more surgeons will find it difficult in Malaysia, but also more patients will go overseas. We hope the Ministry reviews how its organ transplant policy has or has not affected doctors and patients in the country. Human life is sacred. All doctors subscribe to this precept. Organ transplantation will develop further as long as the rights of patients, the sanctity of life and the sensitivity of society are taken into considerations. On the other hand, the Malaysian Government should not jeopardize the development of organ transplantation and the rights of patients to receive treatment.
Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
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