Absurd organ donation rule on kitchen-sharing dropped
Postmortem can be done after organ retrieval, suggests DGHS
Two significant news reports in the Times of India that could impact organ donation scenario in this country significantly
It appears that the rule for not so near relatives proving that they have shared the same kitchen for more than 10 years with the recipient to be a live donor is unlikely to be incorporated in the amendment to the Human Organ Transplant Rules.
Several absurd rules and conventions have entered the organ donation stage. I have personally known officials from authorisation committee ask for a 'same womb' certificate to be furnished when a sibling is donating to another. I have found this quite drole not to mention unnecessary. Who on earth could issue such a certificate? Birth certificates or school certificates or government documents where parents names are entered should suffice. Unfortunately nobody has gone over this absurdity with a critical eye.
The focus should be on facilitating donations while keeping a sentinel to deter inducements and impersonation. Like all laws in this country, the spirit of the law is salutary but it's letter needs a lot of modification.
The second news item that is of great relevance to the deceased donor situation is the suggestion of the Director General of Health services that post-mortem could be done after organ retrieval.
Brain stem death usually occurs in two situations : following trauma or following a cerebrovascular accident. With India's killer roads, motor vehicular accidents account or a large quantum of head injuries that present to trauma centres. While this is a sad situation and cries out for improvement in roads and helmets, since most of these individuals are younger and active, their uninjured organs are likely to be in excellent shape and hence transplantable.When the injury is severe and brain death supervenes, even if consent for organ donation is provided by the next of kin, once of the major hurdles to organ donation comes in the form of performance of the medicolegal post mortem. Since post-mortem is not possible outside government institutions and medical colleges, having a forensic pathologist present during the organ retrieval (as mandated by rules currently) can be a logistical nightmare. This is due to understaffing of forensic departments, lack of motivation and sometimes rank callousness.
This suggestion to use technology like CT or MRI to image organs before retrieval or obtain samples of required organs during retrieval if a forensic pathologist is a welcome proposal and is likely to simplify organ retrieval in medico-legal cases significantly. A post-mortem can always be performed after retrieval if needed.
This suggestion if accepted will allow timely retrieval of many more transplantable organs and save lives.
Postmortem can be done after organ retrieval, suggests DGHS
Two significant news reports in the Times of India that could impact organ donation scenario in this country significantly
It appears that the rule for not so near relatives proving that they have shared the same kitchen for more than 10 years with the recipient to be a live donor is unlikely to be incorporated in the amendment to the Human Organ Transplant Rules.
Several absurd rules and conventions have entered the organ donation stage. I have personally known officials from authorisation committee ask for a 'same womb' certificate to be furnished when a sibling is donating to another. I have found this quite drole not to mention unnecessary. Who on earth could issue such a certificate? Birth certificates or school certificates or government documents where parents names are entered should suffice. Unfortunately nobody has gone over this absurdity with a critical eye.
The focus should be on facilitating donations while keeping a sentinel to deter inducements and impersonation. Like all laws in this country, the spirit of the law is salutary but it's letter needs a lot of modification.
The second news item that is of great relevance to the deceased donor situation is the suggestion of the Director General of Health services that post-mortem could be done after organ retrieval.
Brain stem death usually occurs in two situations : following trauma or following a cerebrovascular accident. With India's killer roads, motor vehicular accidents account or a large quantum of head injuries that present to trauma centres. While this is a sad situation and cries out for improvement in roads and helmets, since most of these individuals are younger and active, their uninjured organs are likely to be in excellent shape and hence transplantable.When the injury is severe and brain death supervenes, even if consent for organ donation is provided by the next of kin, once of the major hurdles to organ donation comes in the form of performance of the medicolegal post mortem. Since post-mortem is not possible outside government institutions and medical colleges, having a forensic pathologist present during the organ retrieval (as mandated by rules currently) can be a logistical nightmare. This is due to understaffing of forensic departments, lack of motivation and sometimes rank callousness.
This suggestion to use technology like CT or MRI to image organs before retrieval or obtain samples of required organs during retrieval if a forensic pathologist is a welcome proposal and is likely to simplify organ retrieval in medico-legal cases significantly. A post-mortem can always be performed after retrieval if needed.
This suggestion if accepted will allow timely retrieval of many more transplantable organs and save lives.
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