I REFER to Mdm Lim Chiong Luan's comment ('Will this day come? 'O $ Pay $, No $ Sell Kidney''; ST, Jan 18) on Dr Lee Wei Ling's call to allow organ trading.
It is not easy to be objective when we are thinking about issues that evoke basic human emotions like love and fear. Mdm Lim is quite right to say that if we allow the sale of human organs in Singapore, the rich will buy and the poor will sell. That is the nature of demand and supply in a free market, so why are we suddenly so shocked and fearful that money can do quite a bit of magic? In fact, Singaporeans are already buying organs from outside Singapore because we can afford it and it is an option.
However, I do not think that's the spirit of Dr Lee's argument for legalising the sale of human organs in Singapore. Someone has to be objective. If a good person like Mdm Lim could point out the possible evil consequences of such a proposal, then I am infinitely grateful that there is another person such as Dr Lee, who's both objective and brave enough to point out the obvious good in such a proposal: It will save lives, and each life is precious.
I am sure that any competent government would have the ability to put in place checks and balances to prevent abuse and to stop the poor from being further disadvantaged, and implement them well enough for real benefits to be seen.
Jim Chow Wen Kah
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