AUTOMATIC ORGAN DONATION LAW (Feedback)

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Health whether his Ministry has obtained sufficient feedback on the proposed automatic organ donation law; if so, what sort of public support has been obtained; and, if not, whether he intends to get public opinion support before introducing the law.

The Minister of State for Health (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, I will answer on behalf of my Minister.

There has been extensive coverage in the mass media on the proposed legislation on organ donation since it was first mentioned in Parliament during the Budget Debate of 25th March 1986. The National Kidney Foundation has also organized many talks and seminars to explain the subject to the public.

The majority of letters in the English and vernacular press have been in support of the proposed legislation.

The National Kidney Foundation has also received more than 49,000 petitions in support of the proposed legislation. Eight organizations comprising medical and religious associations have given their support. The Muslim Religious Council has also endorsed the concept of organ donation to save lives. Those who objected were not unsympathetic to the plight of kidney failure victims. They wanted to be assured that safeguards would be provided to ensure that organs would not be improperly removed.