A Helping Hand

“Several patients suffering from chronic illnesses and waiting for organ transplants die without the receipt of a suitable organ. It is therefore necessary for a major reform to happen in the existing organ donation and transplant system,to encourage organ transplantation procedures and reduce mortality through timely transplants,” said Dr Abhay Sadre,a nephrologist at Ruby Hall Clinic.

Nineteen-year-old Kalpesh had sustained critical multiple injuries after he met with an accident. He was rushed to a hospital but the doctors informed that his chances of survival were slim. It was a devastating time for his family. Their shock turned to grief when a few hours later,Kalpesh was declared brain dead with no chance of survival. Family,friends,neighbors,all joined his parents at the hospital. His willingness to always extend a helping hand to a friend in need made the parents think about continuing his legacy.

After discussion with a few close friends and extended family,his parents thought of organ donation. With thousands of people awaiting transplant surgeries,Kalpesh’s family feel their story will inspire people to donate their organs. The escalating imbalance between supply and demand can also be effectively addressed through increasing awareness programs and educating people about the need and importance of organ donation. The programme should be aimed at eliminating misconceptions about organ donations,inducing an attitudinal change towards organ donation as a social responsibility,especially diseased organ donation,” says Dr Vatsala Trivedi,president,National Deceased Donor Transplantation Network (NDTN).

“What is equally important is communicating with doctors and medical practitioners. Many doctors do not address the option of donation to relatives of the deceased. Doctors,nurses and medical students also do not know about the Act. That means that they need to be educated more about the Act,along with the rest of the population

To facilitate more deceased organ donations,some changes are needed in Human Organ Transplantation Act. These include helping relatives understand the condition of ‘brain death’,along with procedures that make it mandatory for ICU staff to suggest organ donation and request permission for the same. Though the government has approved a few amendments to the organ donation act,it will take few years before its real impact is felt. Another aspect is that though the law seeks to weed out commercialization of organ transplants,there are a few strictures on possible donors under the present law that are yet to be addressed.