If we place ourselves in their position, maybe the knowledge that their organs may help other human beings could bring them happiness as they prepare to leave this world.
Still, they would be very worried about their family in their absence. Under such circumstances, can we claim that it is inappropriate and even greedy to use organs to provide financial support to those left behind?
In addition, patients who cannot wait for organ transplants in Taiwan may be forced to go to China, where human rights are violated and medical standards are lower. Such patients are willing to spend NT$1 million to NT$1.3 million for organs of unknown source and quality, with less-than-ideal follow-up treatment and the risk of ongoing disputes.
This shows that patients are primarily concerned with their health, quality of living and their lives as opposed to money, of which many of these patients have enough to spend.
USER PAYS
Therefore, the minuscule subsidies in the Organ Transplant Act do not only fail to improve the long-standing problem of a lack of organs, they also run counter to the universal principle of user pays.
Taiwan’s organ donors and their relatives, patients who need transplants, the medical community, the Bureau of National Health Insurance and the government will always lose out under this regime.
To increase practical benefits for organ donors and those waiting for organ transplants and to increase the number of sources for organs, Article 12 of the Act, which states that donors should not receive remuneration, needs to be reassessed.
Kao Ko-pei is vice superintendent at Chutung Veterans Hospital.
TRANSLATED BY DREW CAMERON
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