Category Archives: organ donation

“Seriyaagividum” It Will Be All Right (?)

I was riding with Gowtham on his Yamaha FEZ motorcycle from West Mambalam, Chennai to Kovalam further down the coast to meet our friend when we drove up to a little boy and an older woman in the middle of … Continue reading

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Don’t Worry About the Government (Hospitals)

I recently had the opportunity to work in the Indian Government Hospital setting as a transplant surgery adviser to the Government of Rajasthan and it reminded me of the Veteran’s Administration Hospitals in the US. Any big bureaucracy anywhere in … Continue reading

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Organ Donation in Rajasthan Part 2: The Challenges Ahead

I reported on the miraculous success of Rajasthan’s nascent deceased donor transplant program in my last post, promising to outline the very real but surmountable challenges ahead in this post. I will focus on these challenges in the Government Hospital … Continue reading

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Organ Donation in Rajasthan Part 1: The Thrill of Victory

History was made twice in Rajasthan in February 2015. On 6 February, the first organ donation and abdominal organ recovery was performed at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jaipur, resulting in the first deceased donor kidney transplant in Rajasthan and sharing … Continue reading

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Is Liver Transplant in India Proceeding with Reckless Abandon?

The answer to the question “is liver transplant in India proceeding with reckless abandon?” is, as with almost anything in this wonderfully complicated country, yes and no. I have had the pleasure to meet several talented transplant surgeons who are … Continue reading

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The Magic Jaipur Night for Organ Donation

Last Thursday night, I was informed by Dr. TC Sadasukhi, Transplant Urologist at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital (MGH), that a 7 year old boy was potentially brain dead and the family was interested in organ donation. Coincidentally, as Transplant Consultant to … Continue reading

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Vital Infrastructure Issues for a Successful Deceased Donor Transplant Program in India

India is an exciting place to be right now for many reasons. Perhaps one of the most exciting is the emergence of deceased donor transplantation, that is, organ transplantation from brain dead, family consented donors. India is among the world … Continue reading

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Lack of Professional Transplant Training in India: A Solvable Problem

Transplant is hot in India these days, especially with the emergence of deceased donor transplant activity. Based on the success of deceased donor transplant programs in states such as Tamil Nadu, there is an increasing political will, public acceptance and … Continue reading

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Deceased Donor Transplantation in Kerala: An Interview with Dr. Barry

Q:  The deceased donor organ donation programme in India/Kerala is in a very nascent stage and obviously, a transplant scenario like the one in the US does not seem even remotely possible in the near future. How do you think … Continue reading

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The Vital Roles of Nursing in Transplant’s Success

A successful deceased donor transplant program entails many elements, but perhaps one of the most vital elements is a well informed and dedicated nursing staff. Transplant nursing expertise must be present on many levels, from the ICU to the Operating … Continue reading

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