"Navigating Cultural Sensitivity: A Path to Enhance Organ Donation in Hong Kong"

Hong Kongs health officials propose an opt-out mechanism for organ donation to address the critical shortage of organs for organ transplantation, especially amid cultural sensitivities surrounding brain death.

• A senior health official in Hong Kong has suggested revisiting an opt-out system for organ donation to alleviate the acute shortage of donor organs for life-saving organ transplantation.
• Currently, Hong Kong faces long wait times for organ transplantation, with many patients, particularly those needing a kidney, struggling to find suitable donors among the deceased.
• Cultural beliefs around brain death complicate discussions on organ donation, making it challenging to encourage families to consent during emotionally vulnerable times.