2766 patients waiting for organs in fear; infighting in K-SOTTO getting intense

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 2766 patients in the state are worried as the fight between doctors in K-SOTTO (Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization), formed to promote post-mortem organ donation, intensified. These are the people who have invested their hope in K-SOTTO and are waiting for organ transplants. The highest number of people waiting for kidneys ( 2137).

The ongoing open confrontation between Dr. M. K. Mohandas, the head of nephrology at the Medical College, who resigned as the K-SOTTO South Zone Nodal Officer the other day, and K-SOTTO Executive Director Noble Gracious has also put the Health Department in a crisis. Dr Mohandas has demanded an investigation into corruption in K-SOTTO and the sharp decline in organ donations. Dr Noble had alleged that Mohandas had only performed one post-mortem organ donation surgery in the past two years at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. Calling this a lie, Dr Mohandas posted a post on Facebook along with the figures for each year. He called the lying K-SOTTO director a disgrace and asked him to resign. Mohandas has also said that legal action will be taken if Noble Gracious does not publicly apologize for spreading false information.

Dr Mohandas is a senior doctor and head of the department of nephrology in the Department of Medical Education. Dr Noble Gracious is five years junior to Mohandas in the same department. This is the first time in the recent history of the health department that a department head and a junior doctor have clashed in this way.

Waiting for

Kidney................................. 2137

Liver..................................490

Heart..................................69

Hands..................................6

Small intestine................................3

Cornea..................................20

Lung..................................1

Pancreas..................................10

Multiple organs.....30