Transplant rules being flouted for Natarajan?

Stating that the scheduled transplant at Global is out of turn, a city-based urologist and liver specialist on condition of anonymity said, “A month ago, the hospital did a transplant on a Benguluru-based patient and the donor’s liver did not work. They, therefore, raised a supra urgent listing within 24 hours and immediately got a liver from Fortis Malar.” 

The surgeon added that since Global had received a liver only last month, they are not expected to receive yet another liver. “It is out of turn. If they do so, the system comes to a shambles,” he said. 

Besides, the fact that the brain dead donor was airlifted to Chennai has raised more questions. “Normally, a body can be kept stable for a maximum of 24 hours after declared brain dead. Once harvested, the organ should be transplanted at the earliest. However, it is illegal to airlift a person once he is brain dead and the patient cannot be shifted. It is only allowed if the patient is transferred for higher neuro surgical care. And, if they die in the process, the organs can be harvested,” added the doctor.

Questioning the ethics of this transplant, Dr Joseph Amalorpavanathan, former Convener, TRANSTAN – the state Transplant Authority – said, “If the patient was declared brain dead, why was he airlifted? His organs could have been harvested there. Thanjavur Medical College – from where the boy was airlifted - is a very big institution. Pudukkottai too has a medical college and they have neurosurgery and ventilator needed for such cases. Who decided that he must come to Chennai?” 

However, Dr Sunil Shroff from MOHAN Foundation, a non-profit Organisation, which promotes organ transplantation, said, “This is not the first time that brain dead patients have been airlifted. From Salem, we have had a brain dead donor moved so after receiving the family’s consent.”

Senior physicians here also alleged that transplanting was not the best option for a person who is as old as 74 and that the outcome of such a procedure might not yield the desired results.

Speaking to DTNext, a senior health department official said, “Organ transplants are governed by the state transplant committee and the health department has nothing to do with it.”