Licence to drive.. and donate organs

Health Ministry comes up with a novel idea to make accidental deaths meaningful:

by Carol Aloysius

Health and Nutrition Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne's rather unusual step to propose to the Motor Traffic Department, to introduce a new clause in driving licences enabling holders to donate their unharmed organs in the event they die in a road accident, is undoubtedly a forward leap towards promoting organ transplant in this country.

In the wake of an alarming wave of road traffic accidents, where many drivers and or passengers are dead even before reaching the nearest hospital, or else end up hooked to a ventilator, brain dead, the Minister's proposal announced early this month, must surely have stirred more than a whisker of hope in patients whose lives are already ebbing away for lack of a vital organ they need to give them a new lease of life.

While the spike in road traffic accidents is now a global phenomenon with some 1.5 million persons dying every year according to global statistics, the picture is equally dismal and terrifying in our own little island. Statistics from Traffic Headquarters Accident Service and Epidemiology Unit have collectively proved this. A Road Safety Conference which coincided with the launch of a Decade of Road Safety in Sri Lanka, also highlighted this fact, adding that most victims were young and in the prime of life.

Global statistics state traffic injuries were the leading cause of death of people aged 15-29 globally, nearly half ( 46%) of those dying on the roads are ' vulnerable users' i.e. pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists which is just about any road user. The causes: speeding, drinking and driving, non use of helmets, seat belts and child restraints when travelling.

Sri Lanka is no exception

Former Accident Services Director, Dr Kapila Wickremanayake, quoting hospital statistics said around 150 accidents were reported daily resulting in the loss of between 5-6 or more lives. "Tragically some are from the same family", he told this writer. Most victims end up in hospital morgues where their bodies are probed and dissected to verify the cause before a death certificate is used to relatives.

A nephrologist from a state hospital told the Sunday Observer on the grounds of anonymity, "The tragedy is their organs which are in most cases intact, could have been transplanted in people who were dying because their organs have packed up and they don't have new organs to replace them",

Dr Chinthaka Galahitiyawa

To fill this void, The Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital has come up with a new Plan. Consultant Nephrologist, Sri Jayewardenapura Hospital Dr Chinthaka Galahitiyawa said recently that plans were afoot to launch a live organ donation program, the first of its kind in the country, specifically for this purpose.

End stage patients

"We now see a sharp rise in end-stage patients with chronic kidney disease who need transplants to give them a longer quality life. The option that most people now have is dialysis treatment which is a costly and long drawn out process. As those on dialysis treatment, need dialysis for a minimum of twice a week. The machines available in the seven State hospitals that have this facility are unable to meet the demand.

Besides dialysis treatment is a prolonged process which patients have to undergo for the rest of their lives. Hence kidney transplants are a better option", he explained. "We have plenty of brain dead persons being brought to our hospitals daily whose kidneys are still functioning. If these kidneys are donated by their relatives or even the patients in their lifetime they could be used to meet the huge deficit we now face in finding live kidneys for transplants", he said. Kidney transplant tissues rates in Sri Lanka are over 90 percent," he added.

The newly appointed Director Accident Services, National Hospital, Sri Lanka ( NHSL), Dr Samindi Samarakoon said the number of kidney transplant operations currently being done at the NHSL were around 2-3 or more a day. "We have a huge waiting list for donors. Those who don't get them in time will die as the disease progresses and affects other organs", she said. Welcoming the new proposal, she said including a clause in the Driving Licence stating he or she has already given the consent voluntarily. This would go a long way in helping us to give those live organs to some patient who really need them," she said. Dr Samarakoon also added that the hospital was making arrangements to release the bodies of victims who needed to be buried within 24 hours, after a postmortem.

Sheik Mohamed, 35, a Muslim resident from Borella and tri shaw driver said he had no hesitation about donating his organs to help another person to live, should he meet with an accidental death on the roads. "It is like continuing to live in someone else's body and is not against our religion . It is much better for us to donate our living organs to people who need them, rather than allowing it to be buried," he told the Sunday Observer when we flagged him down for an interview on the pavement outside the ANCL building.

R.P Sunil, 45, a heavy vehicle driver for the past several years, said, " as a Buddhist I consider it an act of merit(pin karanawa) which the Buddha has asked us to do. At present my driving licence can immediately indicate my blood group and other details So why not even my decision to donate my organs in the event of sudden death on the roads?"

Kathiravelu (58), a businessman and a father of three said "It's a very good idea. It would be better to donate our organs to people who need them and save their lives rather than burn them in a funeral pyre."

Neville, 65 from Piliyandala, a three wheeler driver also had no qualms about donating his organs if he died on the road. "Unfortunately, my licence is for a life time as I obtained it under the old system. This will apply to only those who need to renew their licences periodically". When told he could still offer to donate his organs by contacting the relevant authorities in charge of organ tissue transplant he said, " I will give it serious thought as this is a meritorious act."

Nilan, 32, an employee in a city hotel working in the laundry section, is also a three wheeler driver and is a Roman Catholic. A former student at a seminary, who gave up his desire to become a clergyman for his present job in the hotel industry, said, "I welcome the idea. Donating our organs to save lives is to sacrifice for others. It is what we have been commanded to do by Jesus Christ".

Motorcyclist Keerthi, 25 who admits he loves racing on his new bike, however, disagreed. "I love life too much to think about death so early. If I die suddenly, I prefer to allow my body to go to the grave in tact, because that's what my parents and siblings would want".