Hong Kong Launches Investigation into Organ Donation Misinformation
The Hong Kong Secretary for Health, Lo Chung-mau, announced that the authorities' investigation into the recent organ donation disruptions targets those who spread misinformation.
The announcement came after the Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, condemned the "shameful" act of people who discouraged others from organ donation, and ordered a police investigation into the matter.
The health chief assured that citizens are not wrong to register or deregister themselves from the organ-donor registry as long as they are making the decision independently.
He also stated that although a number of people have spread false information, he is not concerned that citizens will be affected by it.
The number of organ donations in Hong Kong is relatively low, with only dozens of successful transplants each year, and patients in need of organs have to wait for an average of five years, with the longest wait being up to 29 years.