Experts discuss organ transplants<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Islamic medical experts are discussing crucial
\nquestions on health technologies, including whether religious
\nlaws permit uterus transplants and transplants of animal organs.<\/p>\n
Opened by Minister of Health Sujudi yesterday, the
\nInternational Seminar and Annual Meeting of the Federation of
\nIslamic Medical Associations discussed in general challenges that
\nMoslems will face with advances in medical technologies.<\/p>\n
\"In general, participants agreed yesterday that Islam is not
\nopposed to organ transplants,\" Azrul Azwar, chairman of the
\nIndonesian Medical Association, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.<\/p>\n
He expressed surprise at the kind of questions and suggestions
\nthat the more than 100 participants posed during the seminar.
\nMany were intellectually stimulating, \"very good questions\", but
\nmay seem farfetched, he said.<\/p>\n
He admitted, however, that what may seem as unrealistic today
\nmay become reality in the near future.<\/p>\n
Among the speakers were Tarmizi Hakim from the Harapan Kita
\nCardiac Hospital, Shabir Ahmad Wadee from South Africa and Ahmad
\nbin Sallehuddin from the National Heart Institute, Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Azrul said the seminar also discussed the lack of donors for
\norgan transplants.<\/p>\n
In Egypt, there is no difficulties in finding donors for organ
\ntransplants, he said, \"A Sudanese who needs an organ transplant
\ncan easily go to Egypt to find a donor,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Malaysia, on the contrary, donors are difficult to find.<\/p>\n
\"Even though Islamic teachings do not oppose organ
\ntransplants, local culture and low education levels sometimes
\nmake people reluctant to become donors,\" Azrul said.<\/p>\n
For instance, a child is often told that when a person dies,
\nhe should be buried with all of his organs intact. \"When the
\nchild grew up, he would be reluctant to donate an organ,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Minister Sujudi said organ transplants involved advanced
\ntechnologies in medical care. In many cases, it becomes the last
\nhope to save lives. However, there are many constraints to be
\novercome, he said.<\/p>\n
In addition to the need of sophisticated equipment and
\ndifficult procedures, limited donors for organ transplants is the
\nbiggest problem, he said in his opening speech.<\/p>\n
There is always a lack of supply compared to the rising demand
\nfor organs. \"Live donors are difficult to obtain and eventually,
\nthe medical profession has to turn to organs obtained from the
\ndead,\" Sujudi said.<\/p>\n
He expressed his understanding that Moslems cannot
\nautomatically adopt such a medical development because they have
\nto examine whether the technology is in accordance with Islamic
\nteachings.<\/p>\n
\"There are several aspects -- such as ethical, moral,
\nsocioeconomic and religious aspects -- that need to be
\nconsidered,\" Sujudi said.<\/p>\n
On the question of donors, for instance, experts need to
\ndetermine whether to \"prioritize the living over the dead\" and
\nhow to weigh manfaat (benefits) against mudharat (wastefulness).<\/p>\n
Indonesian religious leaders (representing the five
\nofficially-recognized religions, which are Islam, Catholicism,
\nProtestantism, Hinduism and Buddhism) agreed in May to endorse
\nthe transplanting of kidneys taken from dead bodies in order to
\nincrease the supply of badly needed kidneys.<\/p>\n
The government, however, is still waiting for the religious
\nleaders to issue a fatwa (edict) on the subject. (31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/experts-discuss-organ-transplants-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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