Episode 20: Organ Donation—Heavy, Yet Full of Hope

Have you ever encountered organ donation? Or have you ever registered your willingness to donate your organs? Do you worry about ‘having a complete body after death’? About ‘seeing the body one last time’? In many Chinese societies, death has never been an easy topic to talk about— and organ donation, even more so. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of 2025, 35,654 people have registered their willingness to donate organs. And as of October 31, 2025, there are 11,732 patients still waiting for organ transplants. At first glance, it seems like willingness exceeds demand. But in reality, becoming an eligible organ donor is far rarer than winning the lottery. For families, the decision-making process around organ donation is an intense inner tug-of-war. Grief, reluctance, fear of mistreatment, concerns about how precious organs will be used, distrust of the medical system, difficulty accepting death, and confusion around brain death— so many emotions collide at once. And medical social workers are often expected to stand on the front lines of this process. There’s a scene in The Rescuers of Life and Death where a social worker always carries a stack of tissues in their pocket. Knowing when to take them out, and when to say the words ‘organ donation’— just thinking about it makes our hearts ache. So in this episode, Lee-san and Pammei invite you to sit with us and talk about organ donation— a topic that is undeniably heavy, yet quietly filled with hope. Share your thoughts on this episode here: https://open.firstory.me/user/cmcihfnnk06ig01xec5jf5a4w/comments Or drop me an email—tell me what color the ocean is today… (just kidding~) [email protected] We’ve also got a Facebook & IG page now, so don’t forget to like and follow! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579195030101” Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msw.nosecrets/ 這一集是中文版第 20 集「 說是沉重卻又有充滿希望感的器官捐贈 」的英文版。 #醫務社工不藏私 #MSWNosecrets #MSWひみつなし Powered by Firstory Hosting