~ Families often hesitate to consent to organ donation due to fears of donor treatment and transparency concerns.
~ Organ donation positively impacts the lives of recipients as well as donors.
One donated cadaver has the potential to save up to eight lives through organ harvesting and raising awareness about organ donation is key to overcoming misconceptions that hinder life-saving transplants in Goa and elsewhere, according to a leading Goa-based nephrologist.
According to Dr Shital Lengade, consultant nephrologist at Healthway Hospitals, Old Goa, World Organ Donation Day, observed on August 13 every year, underscores the critical importance of organ donation, a life-saving gift that continues to face challenges due to widespread misconceptions.
Dr Lengade emphasises that understanding the organ donation process is crucial for making informed decisions. “There are two primary types of organ donations: living donations, where donors can give one of their kidneys or part of their liver, and deceased donations, which occur when a person is declared brain dead. The latter has the potential to save up to eight lives by enabling the transplantation of kidneys, liver, heart and lungs,” he explains.
As part of its ongoing commitment to raise awareness about organ donation, Healthway Hospitals has organised multiple campaigns and educational drives periodically, especially on World Kidney Day, World Organ Donation Day and other such occasions.
Since the inception of the hospital’s organ transplant program in 2019, the hospital has successfully performed 21 kidney transplants, 20 of which were living donor transplants, with one being a cadaver kidney transplant, also known as a deceased donor kidney transplant or non-living donor transplant. These transplants have transformed lives, offering recipients a new lease on life while enabling donors to experience the joy of saving a loved one.
Take the case of 37-year-old from Colvale, Mark Rocha, who underwent a kidney transplant, which has changed the quality of his life. “My surgery was on September 16, 2023 and I have since recovered well and returned to my normal life and activities. Apart from minor illnesses like the flu, everything has been going smoothly. I feel healthier, more energetic and grateful for the second chance at life,” says Rocha.
Nitin Raghunath Sawant, a 41-year-old resident of Old Goa, on the other hand, believes that donating his kidney to his wife was a decision he is proud of. “I was blessed with two healthy kidneys and I donated one to save my wife’s life. Even after the donation, I’m living the same active lifestyle as before. I’m overjoyed to see her thriving with a normal life now,” shares Sawant. “If you have the opportunity to give the gift of life by donating an organ, please don’t hesitate – it’s a chance to make a profound difference.”
Individuals over 18 can register as organ donors online via the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) website or by visiting the SOTTO office at the Goa Medical College campus. Those under 18 require parental consent. Donors are encouraged to pledge their organs and inform their families. Healthway Hospitals conducts living donor kidney transplants (close family member or spouse as donor) and also has a waitlist for deceased donor kidney transplant for patients on dialysis. It is one of the few facilities in Goa licensed for these procedures, says Dr Lengade.
Organ donation in India, especially in Goa, faces several challenges, primarily due to misconceptions and lack of awareness. Understanding and acceptance of brain death as death is lacking. Many families hesitate to consent to organ donation due to fears about the donor’s treatment, concerns over body mutilation and doubts about the transparency of the organ allocation process.
These misconceptions are deeply ingrained and can only be addressed through continuous education and transparent practices. “Our priority is always to save the patient’s life. Organ donation is only discussed when all other medical efforts have been exhausted. The organ donation and allocation process is highly regulated and ethical, ensuring that only those on the waitlist, as per SOTTO’s criteria, receive the donated organs,” explains Dr Lengade.
In India, the demand for organ donations far exceeds the available supply. An estimated around two lakh persons suffer from renal failure every year, however the number of renal transplants done is around 12 15 thousand only. The organ donation rate is still less than one per million.The need is for 65 organs per one million population.
