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Law Ministry clears Bill legalizing organ swaps
Kounteya Sinha TNN
New Delhi: Its a move that will save thousands of lives and prevent terminally ill patients from falling prey to unscrupulous organ traders. The Union law ministry has cleared the long-pending amendments to the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, and will send the draft Bill to the Cabinet secretary on Tuesday.
The Bill, which is scheduled to be introduced in the next session of Parliament, seeks to legalise swapping of vital organs between willing but incompatible donors. At present, transplants can take place only between blood relatives and those emotionally close to the patient. Swapping will help patients who have relatives willing to donate but are medically incompatible for the recipient.
Under this system, when a donors organ isnt compatible with his relatives but is suitable for another, two families, unknown to each other, can exchange the organs.
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In fact, in September last year (2008), such a kidney swaps were done at Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital, Nadiad (Gujarat/India). It was done with special permission from Govt authorities.
A story appeared in this regard last year, is reproduced below :-
Times of India, Ahmedabad, 25 Sep 2008, Front page
Wives in kidney swap
Prashant Rupera | TNN
Nadiad: Hariom Gautam, 45, from Rajasthan and Dinesh Jain, 40, from Madhya Pradesh, were strangers, with just one thing in common — both suffered from failed kidneys or end-staged renal disease (ESRD). The two now have an even stronger bond.
While Hariom’s wife Mamata, 35, donated a kidney to Dinesh, Dinesh’s wife Sunita, 35, donated a kidney to Gautam. Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital, Nadiad, doctors say such surgeries are rare in India.
Says Hariom, an office superintendent at a school in Churu, “My father, in his 70s, was willing to donate a kidney, but I refused fearing he would develop complications. My wife too was ready, but her blood group didn’t match.”
Dinesh, an LIC agent from Indore, too, was offered kidneys by his mother and younger brother. “But they were not suited to donate. And like Hariom, my wife’s blood group did not match. The two of us were casually talking when we realised our wives’ kidneys couldbe exchanged as Hariom’s blood group matched my wife’s while my blood group matched with his wife’s blood,” says Dinesh.
A fortnight after the transplants, the couples say they have bonded for life. “I have a brother in Hariombhai,” comments Sunita.
Says chairman of department of urology at the hospital Dr Mahesh Desai, who headed the surgery team, “Kidney swap transplantation is in practice worldwide, but it is the first case for us. We operated on the donors and recipients simultaneously. It is great to see that the families have emotionally connected.”
P A JOSEPH
OFFICER ON SPECIAL DUTY
MULJIBHAI PATEL UROLOGICAL HOSPITAL
NADIAD (GUJARAT / INDIA) PIN 387 001
www.mpuh.org
Dinesh Jain (left) received kidney from Mamata (2nd from right) and Hariom Gautam (right) received kidney from Dinesh’s wife Sunita
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