Amendments to the Human Organ Transplant Act

• Abstract
• Purpose of health policy or idea
• Characteristics of this policy
• Political and economic background
• Purpose and process analysis
• Expected outcome
• References

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Abstract

Parliament on 6 Jan 2004 passed the amendments to the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) 1987. The amended Act allows for several extensions of the original Act, i.e. beyond kidney transplants to also include liver, heart and cornea; beyond deaths due to accidents to all causes of death; and beyond cadaveric donation to also regulate living donor organ transplantation.

Purpose of health policy or idea

Parliament on 6 Jan 2004 passed the amendments to the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) 1987 (earlier reported in survey#1/2003). Whereas the original HOTA allowed for only the kidneys of Singapore citizens and permanent residents to be removed in the event of accidental death for the purpose of transplantation, the amended Act allows for extension of the Act:

1. beyond kidney to also include liver, heart and cornea;
2. beyond deaths due to accidents to all causes of death; and
3. beyond cadaveric donation to also regulate living donor organ transplantation.

The amendments to the Act were passed without much controversy. It was preceded by several months of public consultation exercise, which drew favourable responses from Members of Parliament, various religious groups, the medical profession, and the public at large. Debate had largely centered on whether an opt-in system might be better than the proposed opt-out system.

An opt-out system has been adopted. The Ministry of Health MOH will inform all affected persons by letter of their right to opt out of the system. They will also be told that they can opt out if they object to having their organs removed upon death. In addition, MOH will also inform the general public of HOTA twice a year through the main local newspapers in the 4 official languages. 

On the living, unrelated organ transplantation, the Act requires prior authorisation from the Transplant Ethics Committees (TEC) before any living donor organ transplant can proceed. The TEC would have to be satisfied that two major professional and ethic concerns are adequately addressed, i.e.:

1. the donor thoroughly understands the nature and consequence of the medical procedures and has given his or her full informed consent,
2. there is no emotional coercion (e.g. when donors are related to the recipients) or financial inducement to donate an organ.

HOTA applies to all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents between 21 and 60 years of age. It does not apply to those of unsound mind. Muslims are not included under HOTA on religious grounds. The revised HOTA will take effect in July 2004.

The MOH has also embarked on a 6-month publicity campaign on the revised HOTA. Information brochures on the revised HOTA will be sent to every household.

Innovationsgrad	traditionell		innovativ
Kontroversität	unumstritten		kontrovers
Strukturelle Wirkung	marginal		fundamental
Medienpräsenz	sehr gering		sehr hoch
Übertragbarkeit	sehr systemabhängig		systemneutral

Political and economic background

Purpose and process analysis

Current Process Stages

	Idee	Pilotprojekt	Strategiepapier	Gesetzgebung	Umsetzung	Evaluation	Veränderung/Richtungswechsel
Implemented in this survey?

Expected outcome

References

Author/s and/or contributors to this survey

Lim Meng Kin

Empfohlene Zitierweise für diesen Online-Artikel:

Lim Meng Kin. "Amendments to the Human Organ Transplant Act". Health Policy Monitor, 04/04. Available at http://www.hpm.org/survey/sg/a3/1