Kin can give new life to organs: IMA

The step called ‘required request’ is expected to give the much-needed impetus to organ donation in several states across India. However, even in Tamil Nadu, which has been a model with its Cadaver Transplant Programme initiated in 2008, the move is expected to provide a momentum, according to doctors. 

As a next step, the IMA is expected to make harvesting of organs of brain-dead patients’ compulsory, unless the families do not wish to and convey the same in writing. There is a small window between a person becoming brain dead and for the rest of organs to stop functioning and that’s the critical time for harvesting the healthy organs. In 1994, India accepted the concept of brainstem death and passed the Transplantation of Human Organ Act (THO) Act. 

Though organ donations are increasing, there is a gap between organs needed and organs harvested. In India, at least 4 or 5 to 8 per cent of total deaths in hospitals are due to brain deaths every day, including stroke, haemorrhage and trauma cases. 

Every year, due to accidents, an estimated 90,000 brain deaths occur, accounting for 65 per cent of irreversible head injuries, says Dr Sunil Shroff of Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network (MOHAN) Foundation, which has been spearheading the cause of organ donation. Welcoming the move by IMA, he adds that the association must work towards sensitising and educating doctors. 

“The community is very giving, but before that, we need to educate doctors. Many doctors still believe that they can take organs from pathology labs for the purpose of transplant. The association must educate them about the concept of organ donation, brain death and when you can certify brain death and what organs can be harvested,” he says. 

The emphasis should be on altruism, highlighting it as a noble deed, says Dr Georgi Abraham, nephrologist, Madras Medical Mission. “If you take the case 20 years ago, a request for organ donation was looked at with suspicion. An uneducated person will look at it as a chance for monetary benefit, but the focus must be on altruism. 

The emphasis should be on the fact that vital organs like kidney, liver and heart are going to offer someone a second life,” he says. Dr Abraham also points out that mandatory organ harvesting would require a GO. 

Dr JA Jayalal, vice-president TN Medical Council, says that while awareness holds the key for a surge in organ donation, there should be an equal focus on facilities. He says, “Barring a few corporate hospitals, many do not have the required infrastructure for organ harvest and transportation.”