The seemingly endless dive of the Taiwan stock market is bringing out some very dark and uncomfortable aspects of human nature. The idea that "not everything has its price" appears to have been seriously challenged by the recent news of a desperate stock investor's attempt to auction off his one of his kidneys. Then there was the story about an underground organ-dealing ring's running advertisements in the guise of a non-profit organ-donation association in order to solicit business.
These events also highlight a long-running shortage of donated organs, caused at least in part by people's deep-rooted morbid fear of such donations.
According to Department of Health statistics, the waiting list for new organs has as many as 5,000 people on it every year. Of these, only about 200 individuals are fortunate enough actually to receive transplants. Supply obviously lags far behind demand.
While the shortage in Taiwan is not unique, it comes with a cultural twist. There is a deeply-embedded cultural belief here that a person must die and be buried with all of his or her body parts intact. For this same reason, cremation is not widely accepted in Taiwan, although it may be more economical and environmentally friendly.
Family members -- especially children -- of the deceased, dread being reproached by others for being "disrespectful" or "lacking filial piety" to the deceased and so rule out agreeing to donate the organs of their loved ones. Organ donation, indeed, is taboo.
However, the only way that organs can become available for transplant is through donation. In Taiwan, as in most other countries, including the US, the sale of organs is illegal. Under Taiwan law both the seller and buyer of a body organ are subject to NT$450,000 fines. The seller, broker and even the operating surgeon involved in such a transplant could face jail terms of up to three years.
There is very sound justification behind the ban on organ sales. From a practical perspective, the rule prevents people from injuring each other -- in particular the weak from falling prey to the strong -- over marketable and valuable body organs. From a more philosophical perspective, the mere thought of buying and selling body organs, and imputing a monetary value to our body parts, simply has a distasteful ring to it and sends chills running up and down our spines. It runs counter to an idea that we would like to believe to be true: that not everything is for sale.
Under the circumstances, what should we do about the overwhelming shortage? Educating the public in order to lessen the social taboo on organ donation would certainly be a step in the right direction. However, this is certainly no easy task.
The mere mention of the word "death" to an older person is taboo in our culture, let alone talking to him or her about donation. Indeed there is a taboo about everything even remotely associated with death, most apparent from the fact that people in Taiwan are disinclined to prepare for the "unthinkable but inevitable" in advance by executing wills.
The effort to educate the public may begin, however, with our younger generation who are more open and more likely to accept new ideas and concepts. Teach them about the miracles -- created as a result of the generosity and kindness of organ donors -- within families and within the lives of dying people who had previously felt hopeless. Start a trend among our younger generation in the carrying of written consent to organ donation.
In view of the success of past government campaigns on various health and social issues, including the campaign for routine check ups for breast cancer ("save a life in just 6 minutes," 六分鐘護一生), it is not too late to educate the public about organ donation.
Amy Wu is a member of the teaching faculty at Chung Yuan Christian University and a member of the state bars of California and New York.
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