Some Singaporeans oppose eye organ donations
SINGAPORE (AP) - Some members of Singapore's Chinese community have opposed a proposal to include eyes in the national organ donor program, saying they will need them in the afterlife, a newspaper reported Monday.
The government has begun gauging public opinion over whether the city-state's 16-year-old organ donor law should be expanded to include corneas and livers - and possibly hearts and lungs - instead of just kidneys, the Straits Times newspaper said.
Under the current law all Singaporeans except Muslims, are considered organ donors unless they opt out. Muslims must sign up individually for religious reasons.
Community members told a parliamentary committee on Sunday they would not agree to give up any part of their eyes after death because of their belief in reincarnation, the report said.
Many in the predominantly Chinese country are Buddhists and Taoists, who believe that if their eyes are removed, they will be blind - or have no eyes at all - in their next life.
Some also opposed the cornea donations because eyes were not considered necessary to save lives, the report said.
People were not moved by medical experts' explanations that only the top 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) of the eyes would be removed, the report said.
Dr. Lily Neo, chairman of the parliamentary committee, told the newspaper she would "tread more carefully'' at future community meetings where the new proposals will be discussed.
The government is also looking at ways to expand the donor plan to include Muslims who are not automatically covered.
Although Muslims do not oppose organ donations, Islamic law requires the donor's active consent rather than the government's presumed consent.
Despite the traditional beliefs that run deep through Singaporean society, the wealthy island nation is trying to become a hub for medical and biotech research by actively recruiting international experts. - AP
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