Kidney swap: Experts ask families to move HC

Kidney swap: Experts ask families to move HC

Experts feel that the two families which have been unable to go through with the required swap kidney transplant for the last three months should approach the high court to address the issue and get the necessary permission. They feel that there is nothing wrong with the procedure if both families have mutually agreed to it. In an article on August 9, DNA reported how the country’s first international swap kidney transplant has been stalled as there is no provision in the law. Two families – Sabira and Arif Khokar, a couple from Rajasthan, and siblings Esther and Ann Githinji from Kenya – are willing to donate a kidney to each other’s patients. The transplant was planned at Hinduja hospital and BSES MG hospital. According to doctors, the transplant is necessary but authorities at Sawai Man Singh hospital in Jaipur have declined permission, saying the operation can be only done for Rajasthan domiciles. Asim Sarode, senior lawyer, said, “The globally accepted Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that human life is more important than rules. In this case, if both parties are ready to swap kidneys, then what is wrong in that?” Varying blood groups or mismatch of tissues between a donor and recipient is often a problem in cases of kidney transplant and swap transplantation is a viable option in such cases. If there are two such kidney donor-recipient pairs, and if the kidney of one matches with that of the recipient and vice versa, it will set the successful precedent. “This procedure can save the lives of both sufferers. The existing system needs changes if there are such obstacles to these procedures. In such a scenario, the families are sure to get permission from the court,” said urologist Dr Sujata Patwardhan, KEM Hospital. Human rights activist Salim Shaikh, says, “The government should look at this case through a human angle. Permission should be granted to save the life of these two people.