In a severe blow to the Indian education structure, transplant surgeons in Chennai recently received a mail from a woman who wishes to sell her kidney for her son's education.
“I want sell my kidney... I am a 37- year- old married woman... I have no money for my son's education and I have family problems. So can you help me Sir? It's very urgent... My blood group is B Positive,” says an e-mail sent by the woman to a doctor.
According to the Transplant of Human Organs Act and Rules, 1994, organ selling is a punishable offence and anybody caught buying or selling organs can be jailed for up to seven years with or without a fine of Rs 20,000.
Dr Sunil Shroff, head of Mohan Foundation, an NGO that campaigns cadaver donations, has stated that e-mails are a new trend. People impelled by desperation usually leave phone number or text messages, expecting a call back and more often than not, education for their children is what triggers parents to take such extreme steps.
“Higher education is so expensive and parents get desperate. These are people who are not illiterate or very poor. Earlier most people who offered to sell organs were below the poverty line, trying to repay loans or marry off their daughters,”Dr Shroff said.
The State Transplant Registry officials receive at least one such mail every two days. “ We call and counsel every person who mails us. We tell them it is illegal to offer organs for sale. We also talk to them about the medical complications,” said Dr J Amalorpavanathan, head to the State Cadaver Transplant Authority.
The Indian Government has planned a series of awareness programmes on the benefits of cadaver donations. They have also joined to network with NGOs, doctors, hospitals and the police to stop the illegal trade.
