Organ Donation among Malaysian Muslims: The Role of Mosques

Abstract

Data collected from a survey on 653 Malaysian Muslims reveals that the main factors that hamper organ donation-related activities at the mosques in Malaysia are the lack of experts and financial resources. The level of autonomy of the mosque is also another main issue. The respondents believe that talks and dialogues are the best methods for organ donation campaigns at the mosques. Conclusions We argue that if the mosques are to play a role in imparting knowledge on organ donation, there should be ample opportunity for the mosque committee to choose the content of religious talks held in their community. The mosques in Malaysia are not sufficiently facilitated to channel the information on organ donation to the Muslim community. Providing financial support and expert campaigners are expected to increase organ donation-related activities at the mosques and subsequently could increase awareness regarding organ donations among Malaysian Muslims.

Campaigning for Organ Donation at Mosques

“…Tumin and colleagues ( 2015b ) surveyed 653 Malaysian Muslims from 82 mosques in Kuala Lumpur regarding their knowledge of and access to information about organ donation. They reported that 54–64 % of respondents did not have access to information at either religious sermons or lectures at mosques.…”

“…They reported that 54–64 % of respondents did not have access to information at either religious sermons or lectures at mosques. In an effort to correct this circumstance, Tumin et al ( 2015b ) have recommended that governmental funding be made available, and that faith leaders be encouraged to participate in campaigns aimed at increasing “organ donation activities at mosques” and “providing accurate information to the Malaysian Muslim community.” However, “accurate information” about living and end-of-life organ donation is then limited to include only the information that encourages donor registration among citizens (Tumin et al 2015a ). Within such a context, the recommendation of recruiting faith leaders and promoting organ donation at mosques as a public policy buttresses the problem of trustworthiness of information.…”