Hiranandani kidney racket: Angry urologists and nephrologists say no more transplants

Shete, known to have over 15 years of experience, is a part of the Apex Kidney Care Center in Mulund and is attached as consultant with several hospitals.

“We will only conduct scheduled surgeries. After that, no nephrologist is going to participate in kidney transplants,” said Dr Shrirang Bichu, nephrologist with the Bombay Hospital.

The decision was taken by the Mumbai Nephrologist Group. The members have claimed that a doctor must be relieved from responsibilities requiring document authentication as it is difficult to identify forged documents without expertise.

According to Dr Bharat Shah, the decision to arrest doctors without adequate evidence also puts other doctors at risk, who may unknowingly become part of an illegal transplant.

Until a decision is taken otherwise, kidney patients will have to rely on dialysis in the absence of transplants.

On Tuesday, urologists Dr Mukesh Shah and Dr Prakash Shetty, and nephrologist Dr Mukesh Shete were arrested by the Powai police in connection with the illegal kidney racket busted at Hiranandani hospital. The hospital’s CEO Dr Sujit Chatterjee and medical director Dr Anurag Naik were arrested too.

Urologists in the city were set to hold a meeting Thursday night to decide if a decision to stop transplants should be taken.

“If a couple comes to a doctor and presents their marriage certificate and a marriage photograph as a proof of their relationship, a doctor cannot question further if all documents are presented to him. A doctor should not be blamed for forgery done by patients,” said Dr Anup Ramani, urologist attached to Breach Candy and Lilavati hospitals.

The Mumbai Urology Society has over 300 registered members who will now discuss how doctors can protect themselves from unscrupulous activities.