Call on the Health Ministry to clarify its
stand on organ transplantation in this country
Statement
by Dr Tan Seng Giaw
(Kuala Lumpur,
Friday):
On 27 February, 2003, the New Straits times quoted the 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.
(28/2/2003)
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Dr Tan Seng giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman
and MP for Kepong
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http://dapmalaysia.org