Organ Donation Discussion

There has been a debate among people over whether donating one of their organs after die, owing to the increasing demand in organs. Some countries, such as Singapore and Wales in UK, imposed opt-out organ donation scheme. Many people point out that organ donation should be compulsory for everyone after death because of rescuing life and tackling the organ black market. However, some skeptics argue that organ donation should not be mandatory, it violates human right and disease prevention is better than organ donation.

Firstly, supporters think that compulsory organ donation upon death should be legislated since it can help much more people who need alive organs to survive and increases the supply of organs. For example, every year over 400 patients are on the waiting list for suitable organs to transplant in Singapore. The process of waiting is more than 5 years for some patients, so compulsory organ donation may help more of these patients in a shorter time (Understanding HOTA, n. d. ).

Additionally, some people believe that organ black market can be tracked by compulsory organ donation. Due to the fact that organs are not available in hospital, many patients buy organs from black market, but sellers in black market often get organs by illegal ways and organ trade is prohibited in many countries. Furthermore, recipients are unsafe owing to substandard surgery in black market and at the risk of HIV, hepatitis, malaria. Finally, compulsory organ donation is an ideal way to deter illegal organ trafficking.(Radical Reform Is Needed To Stop The 'Inhumane' Practice Of Transplant Tourism, Experts Urge，2008） 

However, opponents claim that organ donation should not be mandatory as disease prevention can reduce demand in organs. It seems better to halt a problem at the beginning instead of when it arises. Governments improve public health throughout education as well as develop welfare system so that people are aware of diseases which leads to organ die then form healthy lifestyle and treatments for diseases can be affordable for normal people. Furthermore, professionals should find ways to save unhealthy organs rather than replace another one. In brief, prevention can weak the relationship between supply and demand in organs (Organ Donation: Opportunities For Action, n.d.).

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