Latest news with #TransplantationofHumanOrgansAct
New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
In rare feat, two hospitals in Kovai swap liver donors, save two lives
CHENNAI: GEM Hospital and Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, located five-kilometre apart in Coimbatore, have pulled off simultaneous liver transplants for two men in their fifties, involving an inter-hospital swap of organs from donors, who were each other's wives. Addressing the media here on Friday, the hospitals claimed that this was the first time in India that such liver transplants involving inter-hospital swap were done. The patients, aged 59 from Salem and 53 from Tiruppur respectively admitted in GEM and Ramakrishna hospitals, were in dire need of liver transplants. Although their respective wives were ready to donate, they could not due to blood group incompatibility. In what the doctors termed a 'rare stroke of opportunity', it was found that there was compatibility for a swap transplant. R Sundar, Managing Trustee, Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, said the authorisation committee for transplant in Coimbatore didn't give approval for the transplant initially and they had to approach the Madras High Court, which directed the committee to consider the representation as soon as possible and pass an order, following which things were set in motion and the surgery happened on July 3. Both the surgeries were performed under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme of the state government. 'Swap transplants are already regulated under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 2014, but inter-hospital coordination has added new layers of scrutiny,' said Dr P Praveen Raj, Director of GEM Hospitals. Dr C Palanivelu, Chairman, GEM Hospital, said special clearance was needed from State Transplant Authority (TRANSTAN) to transport the organ from one hospital to the other. 'We also had to ensure synchronised surgeries and establish a real-time communication protocol between both hospitals,' he added. Dr N Anand Vijay, Liver Transplant Surgeon - GEM Hospital, said real-time video feeds were established to monitor surgical progress. 'Dedicated ambulances equipped with cold chain systems were kept on standby, but both donors and recipients remained in their respective hospitals throughout, making this a true logistical marvel,' he said.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Two Coimbatore hospitals collaborate for swap liver transplant
Two private hospitals in Coimbatore have collaborated to perform an inter-hospital swap liver transplant. This procedure involves two couples, wherein each wife was the donor for the other's husband. A 59-year-old man from Salem was admitted to the GEM Hospital and a 53-year-old man from Tiruppur was admitted to the Sri Ramakrishna Hospital. Both suffered from end-stage liver disease, requiring transplants. While their wives were willing to donate a portion of their liver, the blood group was incompatible, and this ruled out the possibility of direct donation, according to a press release. Hence, doctors decided to perform a swap liver transplant, and initiated the process required. N. Anand Vijay, Liver Transplant Surgeon, GEM Hospital, said that the blood group of the patient admitted to their hospital was B, and his wife's blood group was A, while the blood group of the patient admitted to the Sri Ramakrishna Hospital was A, and his wife's was B. 'The procedure was discussed with the doctors in Coimbatore, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Sri Ramakrishna Hospital,' he said. P. Praveen Raj, Director, GEM Hospitals said that swap transplants were allowed under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, but, so far, were done only within a hospital.. 'Since this was an inter-hospital swap transplant, we had several legal difficulties. The surgeries had to happen simultaneously in the two hospitals, for which a green corridor for about 3.5 km was created between the two hospitals,' he said. The surgery was performed on July 3. They claimed that this was the first inter-hospital swap liver transplant in the country. Dr. Vijay said that the patients had difficulty in getting clearance from the Authorisation Committee for the swap transplant and, therefore, they approached the Madras High Court and obtained permission. He added that the transplants were covered under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. R. Jayapal, Liver Transplant Surgeon, Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, said that this approach helped avoid the need for costly ABO-incompatible liver transplantation. C. Palanivelu, Founder-Chairman, GEM Hospitals, said that many patients died waiting for organs, including liver, kidney, and lungs, due to the lack of donors. R. Sundar, Managing Trustee, Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, S. Alagappan, Medical Director, Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, and Magnus Jayaraj, Transplant Surgeon, GEM Hospital, were present during a press meet.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Brain dead man's organs give new lease of life to three
A 23-year-old Navneet Singh, who was declared brain dead by the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), gave a lease of life to three critically ill patients. Following the family's consent, Navneet's heart, kidneys, and pancreas were retrieved by the transplant teams at the PGIMER. (HT photo for representation) Navneet Singh, a young engineering student was a resident of Gangath, Nurpur, Kangra. He sustained a grievous head injury following an accidental fall from a rooftop on July 3. Despite being rushed to PGIMER in a highly critical condition, he was declared brain dead on July 11, in accordance with the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA) protocols. Amidst overwhelming grief, Navneet's father, Janak Singh, made the courageous decision to donate his son's organs. He shared, 'Deciding to donate my son's organs was not easy. But knowing that his organs would give others a chance to live has brought us some comfort in our sorrow. We are proud that Navneet's legacy will continue through these lives.' Following the family's consent, Navneet's heart, kidneys, and pancreas were retrieved by the transplant teams at the PGIMER. The kidneys and pancreas were transplanted into two recipients at PGIMER, while the heart was allocated to a matching recipient at RML Hospital, New Delhi, facilitated through NOTTO under the coordination of ROTTO North. In order to transport the donor's heart swiftly to RML, New Delhi, a dedicated green corridor was created from PGIMER to Chandigarh International Airport, Mohali, on Saturday at around 5.45 am. The recipient was a 26-year-old matching recipient admitted at RML Hospital, New Delhi. At PGIMER, the department of renal transplant surgery, led by Ashish Sharma performed a simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant on one patient. The second kidney was transplanted into another patient with end-stage renal failure, who had been on long-term dialysis.
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Indian Express
Doctor accused in Pune Porsche crash held in kidney racket
Dr Ajay Taware, former head of forensic medicine department at the government-run Sassoon General Hospital and an accused in the Pune Porsche car crash case, has now been arrested by Pune city police in connection with alleged malpractices in a kidney transplant conducted at Ruby Hall Clinic in 2022. Police took Taware into custody from Yerwada Central jail on Wednesday. Cops produced him before a magistrate court on Thursday. The court remanded him to police custody till June 2 for further investigation. A first Information Report (FIR) in the kidney transplant malpractice case was lodged at Koregaon Park police station on May 11, 2022. Police said a woman, Sarika Sutar from Kolhapur, had been facing financial problems and allegedly agreed to give her kidney to Amit Salunkhe of Moshi (in Pimpri Chinchwad) by posing as his wife Sujata Salunkhe for Rs 15 lakh offered to her by two 'agents'. A 'kidney swap operation' was performed at the Pune based Ruby Hall Clinic in March 2022, when Sarika's kidney was given to a woman hailing from Baramati, while the kidney of Baramati woman's mother was given to Amit Salunkhe. Police said kidney swapping is allowed once all legal norms are fulfilled, but any financial transaction and forgery in doing so is illegal. After the kidney swap, Sarika did not receive the money she was promised. So she complained to Pune city police and Ruby Hall Clinic authorities. After a preliminary probe, police referred the matter to the state health department, which submitted its inquiry report to a court in Pune. Based on directions issued by the court, a case was registered at Koregaon Park police station under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, along with Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. Dr Sanjog Kadam, Deputy Director of Medical Services, Pune, lodged the FIR in this case. Police initially booked 15 people, including Sarika, Amit Salunkhe, hsi real wife Sujata, alleged 'agents' Ravi Rodge and Abhijit Gathne as well as senior management members and doctors of Ruby Hall Clinic. The FIR stated that fake documents were submitted to the hospital for kidney transplant. In these documents, allegedly prepared by the 'agents', Sarika Sutar posed as Amit's wife Sujata Salunkhe. The FIR held the Ruby Hall authorities and doctors responsible, claiming they did not thoroughly scrutinise the documents and sent them to the Regional Authorisation Committee at Sassoon General Hospital. Police said Dr Taware had been heading this Regional Authorisation Committee and he allegedly allowed the 'kidney swap transplant' without the forged documents being verified submitted by the kidney donor (Sarika) and organ receiver Amit. Police told the court on Thursday that Sarika appeared as Sujata Salunkhe before the committee headed by Taware. Police said Sarika did not give satisfactory answers to the committee. There were discrepancies in her statements pertaining to property and previous medical treatments she received from Amit Salunkhe. Police said Sarika's behaviour before the committee was suspicious, Besides, it was visible her age was different from the actual age of Sujata Salunkhe. Still, the committee headed by Taware allowed the fake person for the 'kidney swap operation', police said. Police sought Taware's custody for seven days to probe if he was involved in any malpractices in the nine kidney swap transplants held during his tenure as head of the Regional Authorisation Committee at Sassoon hospital. Earlier, the police had arrested two agents or middlemen Ravi Rodge and Abhijit Gathne in this case. Police informed the court that chargesheet was filed against the duo on July 11, 2022. Also, a supplementary chargesheet was filed against Sarika Sutar, Amit Salunkhe and two others on October 10, 2022. Police told the court that charesheet was not filed against authorities and doctors of Ruby Hall Clinic as they were found involved in any illegal financial transactions acts in this case and had conducted the 'swap kidney operation' legally. Police said one Bhau Sawant is a wanted accused, while Amit's real wife Sujata was not chargesheeted. Meanwhile, last month, the Maharashtra Medical Council suspended the medical licence of Dr Ajay Taware, for 'gross misconduct and breach of medical ethics', following his alleged involvement in the Pune Porsche crash case. ACP Ganesh Ingle of crime branch is investigating the case further. Role in Porsche crash case Two IT engineers lost their lives after the minor driver of a Porsche car allegedly crashed his vehicle into them, leading to their deaths, on May 19, 2024. The police investigation revealed that when the minor driver, the son of a prominent realtor, was taken to Sassoon Hospital after the accident for a medical examination, his blood sample was allegedly replaced with his mother's. The police arrested the minor's parents and others including Dr Taware for their alleged role in swapping blood samples. A DNA report on August 9, 2024, confirmed blood samples of two friends of the minor driver were also swapped at the hospital.
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Indian Express
Dr Ajay Taware, accused in Pune Porsche car crash case, held in Ruby Hall Clinic kidney transplant ‘malpractice' case
Dr Ajay Taware, former head of forensic medicine department at the government-run Sassoon General Hospital and an accused in the Pune Porsche car crash case, was been arrested by the Pune city police on Thursday in connection with the alleged malpractices in a kidney transplant conducted at Ruby Hall Clinic in 2022. Taware, currently lodged in Yerwada Central jail for his alleged role in tampering with blood samples of the minor accused in Porsche crash case, was taken into custody from the jail and would be produced before a court in the afternoon, said a senior police officer. A First Information Report (FIR) in the kidney transplant malpractice case was lodged at the Koregaon Park police station on May 11, 2022, against 15 people, including senior management members and doctors of Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, for alleged malpractices in a kidney transplant in which a woman was allegedly presented as the organ receiver's wife after being promised Rs 15 lakh in return. The FIR was filed based on a complaint by Dr Sanjog Kadam, Deputy Director of Medical Services, Pune. The police said the case pertains to a kidney swap procedure, also known as paired kidney exchange, between the man from Moshi (in Pimpri Chinchwad) and the woman from Kolhapur posing as his wife, and a mother-daughter duo from Baramati. The police said the mother from Baramati gave her kidney to the Moshi resident, while her daughter was given the kidney of the Kolhapur woman. Kidney swapping is allowed after fulfilling all legal norms, but any financial transaction for doing so is illegal, said a police officer. The police said the transplant took place on March 24, 2022, after medical tests, documentation, verification interviews, scrutiny and final authorisation. But, on March 29, the Kolhapur woman alleged that she was promised Rs 15 lakh by the middlemen for donating her kidney at Ruby Hall Clinic. When she did not get the money that had been allegedly promised to her, she approached the Koregaon Park police station. The Ruby Hall Clinic administration also filed a complaint accusing the woman of concealing her identity. The Pune police authorities had referred the matter to the state health department after a preliminary inquiry. The health department submitted its inquiry report to the court in Pune. Based on the directions issued by the court, the case was registered at Koregaon Park police station under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, along with Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. The FIR stated that the Moshi resident, his wife, the woman from Kolhapur, along with two middlemen, presented forged documents to the hospital. It also held Ruby Hall authorities and doctors responsible claiming that they did not thoroughly scrutinise the documents and sent them to the Regional Authorisation Committee at Sassoon General Hospital. The police said that Dr Taware was a member of this committee and allegedly played a role in the kidney transplant malpractice, and hence the doctor has been named an accused now. Earlier, the police had arrested two middlemen Ravi Rodge and Abhijit Gathne in this case. Ruby Hall Clinic's managing trustee Dr Purvez K Grant had told the Express, 'Ruby Hall has done nothing wrong. We are being unnecessarily harassed.' In April, the Maharashtra Medical Council suspended the medical licence of Dr Ajay Taware, for 'gross misconduct and breach of medical ethics', following his alleged involvement in Pune Porsche crash case. Dr Taware's role in the 2024 Porsche car crash Dr Taware has been charge-sheeted in the Porsche car crash case for allegedly playing a role in swapping the blood samples of the minor driver and others at the Sasoon hospital. Two IT engineers Aneesh Awadhiya and his friend Ashwini Koshta, both aged 24 and hailing from Madhya Pradesh, were killed after the speeding Porsche driven by a 17-year-old boy allegedly in an inebriated state hit their motorcycle around 2.30 am on May 19, 2024. An FIR was lodged on the same day against the minor car driver at the Yerwada police station. The police investigation revealed that when the minor driver, son of a prominent realtor, was taken to the government-run Sassoon Hospital after the accident for a medical examination, his blood sample was allegedly replaced with his mother's. The police then arrested minor's parents, Dr Taware, Dr Shrihari Halnor, the casualty medical officer at the time, Atul Ghatkamble, a morgue staff, and 'middlemen' Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad, for their alleged role in swapping blood samples. During further investigation, a DNA report on August 9, 2024, confirmed that blood samples of the two friends of the minor driver were also swapped at the hospital. Both friends, who too are minors, were in the Porsche at the time of the accident. Police then arrested the fathers of both friends and another person in this case. Last month, the Maharashtra Medical Council had suspended the medical license of Dr Taware and Dr Halnor.
