Newspaper review 1

Date of article: 3rd December 2008
Title: Kidney Donation, payment same for foreigners
Section: Straits times-Home page B11

Little info:

Both foreigners and locals who donate their kidneys should be allowed the same compensation under the new laws designed to increase the pool of organs here, quoted from Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan on 2nd Dec.

Reflection:

As stated in the article, compensation in the first place was only meant for locals, but as everyone are human beings. Donating an organ to someone else equals to giving an important part of themselves to make someone else’s life better. So if locals have the advantage of having compensation, it wouldn’t be fair if a foreigner decides to donate their organ here because of the better post operation medical services our country could provide. To include foreigners under the law increases the amount of donations we might have every year and thus saving more lives.
Another change that Health Minister, Mr. Khaw is going to introduce next year which is;
-Raising penalties for brokers of organ trades.
I personally think that this is essential as to deter people from trying to get into illegal organ trades. Because with the harsh penalties that they may get after being caught or even their conscience can let them feel bad or get punishments that is worse than not having extra bonus that they have after the illegal trade.

Juliana.