Emphasizing on the need to build awareness and a roadmap to overcome challenges towards Cadaver Donation, Institute of Medicine & Law (IML) today organized a virtual meeting to release a Whitepaper on Organ Donation. The event witnessed an intriguing panel discussion on the recommendations of the Whitepaper that addresses the gaps in the organ donation framework in India.
Experts from various fields included, Dr. Swarnalatha, Nephrologist, NIMS, Hyderabad, Mrs. Lalitha Raghuram, Country Head, Mohan Foundation, Mahendrakumar Bajpai, Advocate, Supreme Court of India & Hon. Director, Institute of Medicine & Law, Mr. Vijay DCP, Cyberabad Traffic Police Hyderabad and Dr. Ratna Devi, Chair of The Board of Directors at International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO). Additionally, Dr. Bhagwat Karad, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; and Justice Ravi Tripathi – Chairman: Gujarat State Human Rights Commission; Former Judge-Gujarat High Court graced the event as chief guests.
The Whitepaper captures the deliberations of the 5th National Convention on Medicine & Law that emphasizes on various aspects of Cadaver Donation, from the challenges faced by doctors (grief counselling, alternative tests), caregivers & patients waiting for an organ to the need for streamlining organ donation and transplantation activities at state & central level. It also sheds light on the legal definition and government’s role in the cadaver donation process.
Addressing the medical aspect of the discussion Dr. Swaranlatha – Incharge, JeevanDan, Cadaver Transplant Program Govt of Telangna and Nephrologist NIMS Hyderabad said, “The current cadaver donation rate in Telangana Hyderabad is 5 per million population. We have had over 800 donations since the past 7 years. To enhance it further, awareness is key. Moreover, it has been observed that fear among doctors about legal issues perhaps is one of the reasons that restrains people from getting involved in organ donation. Hence, an overarching law to protect doctors for actions taken in good faith, similar to the protection provided to judicial officers can help. Additionally, to facilitate faster procedures, I would recommend alternatives and ancillary tests to apnea test to be statutorily recognized and well-equipped hospitals can be designated and recognized as Non-Transplant Organ Retrieval Centers (NTORC) in Tier II and Tier III cities.”
Mr. Vijay DCP, Cyberabad Traffic Police Hyderabad said “Along with Awareness we need support at local and constitutional level towards organ donation. The green corridor system is one way to expedite organ transplants and save lives. In this system, the traffic department collaborates to transport a vital organ in less than 60-70% of the time that is usually taken to go from place A to place B. Organ Transplant is a time sensitive procedure, I myself have seen great impacts withing a matter of hours.”
Additionally, the whitepaper addresses various aspects of organ donation framework such as the need of Simpler laws, fear psychosis among doctors, definitions of death in Indian law, coordination between public and private hospitals, need for more hospitals as organ retrieval centers, procedures governing declaration of brain-stem death, etc.
Elaborating further Mr. Mahendrakumar Bajpai, Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Editor, Medical Law Cases – For Doctors, Hon. Director, Institute of Medicine & Law said, “The nation today needs a central law on uniform definition of death. Many countries are following the same as per WHO guidelines. The Registration of Birth and Death Act, which is currently in the process of getting amended, should include Brain-stem Death as a form of death. The socio-cultural preferences of the Indian society should be considered while defining the order of surrogate decision makers. The list should be comprehensive, and the order of preference should be clearly laid down. Additionally, to streamline the process a single authority for reporting, compliance and directions should be contemplated.”
Talking on grief counselling Ms. Lalitha Raghuram, Country Head, Mohan Foundation said, “At Mohan Foundation we have been creating 360-degree awareness of organ donation across cities in India. As a person who has counselled more than 200 families and being a part of an organ donor family myself, I believe awareness around the clear difference between Brain death and Coma should be created to encourage more families to come forward and donate.”
Addressing patient centricity Dr. Ratna Devi, Chair of The Board of Directors at International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO) said, “In India the number of patients waiting for organ donation is way higher than the available donors. To bridge the gap, along with awareness, there is clear need to make the process more patient-friendly. A formal Patients’ organization and patient representatives should be statutorily recognized in all processes and platforms for organ donation. Furthermore, there should be increased co-ordination between public and private hospitals to achieve better patient outcomes and address the organ donation supply demand gap in India.”
The event also witnessed patients sharing their journeys from their ordeal of wait to their joy of receiving organ.
