'When I die, I want my body to keep giving': 36-year-old donating body and brain to medical science

"When I die, I want my body to keep giving."

That was how 36-year-old Luo Chen Jun introduced himself.

The former civil servant became determined to donate his body to medical science while volunteering with children with cancer.

"These kids have their entire futures ahead of them, yet life dealt them a harsh blow. Some of them have brain cancer, and most will not live to experience adulthood," he told The Straits Times.

Then 1½ years ago, his father developed a brain tumour.

"It turned out to be benign. I was so thankful for the outcome that I asked myself how I could give back. The only way was perhaps to leave my body to science when I die. Not only will it help future doctors understand what makes humans tick, but it is also the last gift anyone could give," Mr Luo said.

In Singapore, there are several ways individuals can donate organs and their bodies to save lives, contribute to research, or even to advance medical science. Each type of donation serves a unique purpose.

All Singaporean citizens and permanent residents are automatically included under the Human Organ Transplant Act (Hota) to donate their kidneys, liver, heart and corneas for transplant when they die, unless they opt out.

To pledge more organs, individuals need to opt in under the Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act or MTERA. Some of the organs and tissues that can be donated under this Act include lungs, trachea, pancreas, heart valves, iliac blood vessels and skin; and donors are able to specify what they would like to donate them for - transplant, education or research.

According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, organ donation for transplant and treatment purposes under MTERA will take precedence over donation for education or research.

Being a 'silent mentor' after death

Yet, it seems there is little mention of brain donation as an option - a concept that Mr Luo had been contemplating.

Mr Luo said he first learnt about whole-body and brain donation during a hospital visit. He often volunteers as a subject for clinical trials, assisting healthcare professionals in their research. "I wanted to play a part in research and therapy for medical conditions and what it does to healthy bodies," he said.

"It was at a clinical trial visit that I came across a Brain Bank Singapore leaflet. Realising that consent for brain donation was separate from the usual organ donation pledge, I decided and signed up to pledge my brain on the very day I saw the leaflet," he said.

Brain Bank Singapore collects human brain tissue after a donor's death and preserves it for use in research to prevent, diagnose and treat conditions such as dementia, stroke, and mental illness. Before its establishment in 2019, there was no formal infrastructure for the retrieval or storage of donated human brains for research purposes.

"What amazed me was the fact that one brain donation could be used for hundreds of studies into areas such as autism, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. That opens up hundreds of possibilities for medical breakthroughs, future therapies and the opportunities to improve diagnoses and manage brain diseases and even mental health issues," Mr Luo said.

But he feels that many people remain unaware that the brain is not automatically included in body donation, or that research donations could be "just as life-changing as transplants".

Director of Brain Bank Singapore, Associate Professor Adeline Ng, told ST that the bank raises awareness about brain donation through collaborations with healthcare institutions and community partners, such as Dementia Singapore, Parkinson Society Singapore, and Active Ageing centres.

"Our outreach activities such as talks, event booths, and educational events help clarify common misconceptions and highlight how brain donation contributes to research on neurological and mental health conditions," she said.

Prof Ng, who is also a senior consultant in neurology at the National Neuroscience Institute, added that publicity in the media and through digital platforms "collectively help with fostering understanding about brain donation, trust in Brain Bank Singapore, and a culture of giving that advances scientific discovery".

To date, about 480 individuals have registered as brain donors and Brain Bank Singapore harvested 11 brains and seven spinal cords, which are currently stored in the repository.

Apart from donating his brain after death, Mr Luo has also pledged to become a "silent mentor" by donating his whole body to science. This was done under MTERA.

After death, the body is collected within six hours, and a memorial service is held in place of a traditional funeral. The body is then sent to institutions like Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in the National University of Singapore and The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at the Nanyang Technological University, to be used for studying anatomy and training future doctors.

"This means that after my death, my body will be transferred to an assigned university where (it will) be used for education and research. I was told this would be carried out respectfully for between 18 and 36 months before it is cremated," he said.

From 2020 to 2024, there were more than 500 individuals annually who had pledged whole body donations under MTERA for the purposes of transplantation, education or research.

Change in policy needed

While donating organs to save lives is automatic under Hota, unless the individual opts out, Mr Luo said wanting to donate additional organs, his brain and even his physical body "took a bit of effort".

Mr Luo, who used to deal with policies related to community grants when he was with the government, suggested having a single national registry linking organ, body, and brain donation to simplify the process. "It would make it easier for Singaporeans who want to donate, and for our healthcare system to act quickly as every second counts".

"It is about time that our laws move beyond good intentions. If someone has chosen to donate (their organs or physical bodies), their decision should carry the same respect as a will. Family grief deserves empathy, but policy must ensure that love and emotions do not hinder a life-saving legacy," he said.

Currently, even under Hota which presumes consent, healthcare professionals still consider the family's feelings and do not insist on the donation because they respect the grieving family's emotional distress, and prioritise the family's relationship with the hospital.

"We need policies that protect the will of donors. No one's last wish to save lives should be halted by confusion or hesitation in the moment of loss. Grief is human, but so is honouring a promise to help others live," Mr Luo said.

He admitted that his pledge has caused some tension, as he comes from a staunch Buddhist family and his parents were against it.

"They became concerned and wanted to know what will become of the physical body and whether they could hold a funeral after my passing. My mother was especially worried that I would not be able to be reincarnated as a whole person. They even approached religious teachers for answers. But I am a pragmatic person and I believe in science. Such existential debate does not bother me," he said.

"I even brought up the story of how Buddha sacrificed his own body to save a starving tigress and her cubs. That was the biggest sacrifice. I told my parents that I am trying to do the same, but instead of a starving tiger, it was for medical science, in order to save lives."

He added that his parents have finally come to terms with his intentions "but my mother continues to pray for me".