Chau Ka-foon
A newly formed patients group, the Hong Kong Transplant Association, is calling on the government to review its policy so more organ donations can take place.
Its honorary president, Chau Ka-foon, says there is often a lack of communication between medical staff and the small number of people who coordinate organ transplants. She said this means some potential donors are being missed.
Hong Kong’s low organ donation rate was brought under the spotlight following the death of a 19-year-old schoolgirl, who died in hospital last month while waiting for a double lung transplant.
Jamella Lo had been waiting for a donor for more than two weeks after she came down with a rare lung condition that affects just three or four people in Hong Kong each year.
The authorities, including the Secretary for Food and Health, Ko Wing-man, appealed for donors to save Lo’s life. But no donor was found in time.
In the days following her death, Dr Ko said there was a need to review organ donation arrangements in the city.
He said the government was considering whether it should follow the example of countries that make organ donation an ‘opt-out’ scheme – which would make registration for organ donation unnecessary – but acknowledged this idea was controversial.
Its honorary president, Chau Ka-foon, says there is often a lack of communication between medical staff and the small number of people who coordinate organ transplants. She said this means some potential donors are being missed.
Hong Kong’s low organ donation rate was brought under the spotlight following the death of a 19-year-old schoolgirl, who died in hospital last month while waiting for a double lung transplant.
Jamella Lo had been waiting for a donor for more than two weeks after she came down with a rare lung condition that affects just three or four people in Hong Kong each year.
The authorities, including the Secretary for Food and Health, Ko Wing-man, appealed for donors to save Lo’s life. But no donor was found in time.
In the days following her death, Dr Ko said there was a need to review organ donation arrangements in the city.
He said the government was considering whether it should follow the example of countries that make organ donation an ‘opt-out’ scheme – which would make registration for organ donation unnecessary – but acknowledged this idea was controversial.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1223696-20151115.htm
