As the past president of the Singapore Medical Association, I feel we should always support and help patients who suffer from a medical condition. Society and the medical profession should find ways to assist people who are about to die from kidney failure.

Legalising organ sales is one method, provided we also control the many undesirable effects and protect the interests of the donor.

Many countries have laws prohibiting the sale of organs, and individuals have breached the technical aspects of the law, but it is wrong to consider them criminals.

Such laws should be removed or amended to take into account the desperate circumstances of dying kidney patients. In the same way, kidney donors should be supported and not regarded as criminals.

I appeal to the citizens of Singapore and members of the medical profession to think over this important issue carefully. I understand it is complex. But as doctors, we need to hold true to the central tenets of our profession: First - Do no harm. Second - The interests of patients should always be foremost in our minds.

Let us not go down in history as a nation with no support and empathy for those who are dying from kidney failure.

I appeal to the Government; Members of Parliament; doctors in Singapore; social workers and nurses; judges and lawyers:

Let us unite and not allow victims of kidney disease to die because we are unable to help them.

A related issue which deserves urgent attention is that of diabetes - kidney failure requiring dialysis and kidney transplant is caused by diabetes. There needs to be a bold new approach to solving the escalating crisis of diabetes and its tragic complications, in Singapore and globally.

It is my hope that people with diabetes, the Diabetic Society of Singapore, the Lions Clubs and the Ministry of Health will come together to establish effective strategies to address this issue by early next year.

Prof Arthur Lim
President, Medical Alumni Association