Organ transplant in disarray; dereliction in ensuring brain death; TPM system in medical colleges fails

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government's scheme to make brain death confirmation more efficient has been dismantled behind the scenes. More than Rs 25 lakh spent by the government for this and related activities has gone to waste. Organ transplant surgeries in government medical colleges have been put on hold.

The project aimed to make the organ transplant process accurate and transparent. Selected doctors from government medical colleges were appointed as Transplant Procurement Managers (TPMs) for this. They were trained by bringing an expert team from Spain. Some were sent to Spain and trained.

TPMs were appointed in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode medical colleges in 2019. Associate and Assistant Professors from Anaesthesia and Neurology were in charge. They were instructed to collaborate with K-SOTTO (Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization) to make the confirmation of brain death efficient and transparent. This mission was not implemented.

K-SOTTO Executive Director Dr Noble Gracias had come forward following the allegations made by the head of nephrology at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College the other day. His explanation that K-SOTTO was not directly involved in confirming brain death also points to the lapses of TPMs.

The TPMs were appointed as per the request of K-SOTTO. The training for the TPMs in Kerala was conducted under the DTI Foundation in Spain.

👉Training in Spain?

Spain is the best in the world in organ donation after death. Spain operates under a system of presumed consent, where individuals are considered organ donors unless they have explicitly opted out. Organ donation is systematically offered when brain death is confirmed, and it's a common practice. No special permission is required for this. Organ transplant surgery is also done quickly.

👉2,832 lives are waiting

There are 2832 people registered with K-SOTTO for organ transplant. Most of them are kidney patients. If the surgery is to be performed through posthumous organ donation in the government and private sectors, the patient must register with K-SOTTO. Some private hospitals ask the patient to deposit a large amount as soon as the organ transplant is recommended. Registration with K-SOTTO is allowed only after the money is paid to the hospital.

Kidney.................................................2,193

Liver..................................................498

Heart..................................................71

Multiple organs................................30

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

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

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

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

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

👉 Doctors' public comments banned

Doctors at the Medical College Hospital have been banned from making public comments on official matters. The instructions in this regard were given to the heads of departments in an online meeting called by Medical College Principal P.K. Jabbar. If there are any complaints, they should inform their superiors. The action comes after the head of the nephrology department, Dr. M.K. Mohandas, revealed that K-SOTTO, which coordinates posthumous organ donation, is a failure.