Editorial
The kidney scandal
Tough action must be taken
News reports of the poor being lured into selling their kidneys in return for monetary benefit are a matter of grave concern. While it is understandable that donations of kidneys to save the lives of those whose own kidneys have deteriorated is accepted practice, it is beyond comprehension how organized groups can tempt vulnerable people into selling such an important organ in the body. What makes matters worse is the new discovery that in certain instances, it is not only kidneys that people are divested of but also portions of the liver. Obviously, with little guarantee that these poor who sell these organs will receive proper post-operative care, the question of how the authorities mean to handle the issue comes up.
Our distress is compounded by reports that some reputed hospitals and doctors too have been involved in this macabre trade. As an individual arrested on charges of committing such criminality has made it known, a very well-organised racket, or even rackets, is at work. Of course, it would be wrong to draw any sweeping conclusion about the hospitals and doctors involved. But it would surely be right and ethical to go after those hospitals and medical personnel who have engaged in such a pernicious trade. And it is pernicious because in most instances those who are made to part with their kidneys remain unaware of the damage that may be done to their own health following the operations to remove those organs. It may well be that these 'donors' will be sent home even before they have fully recovered. Worse, once the 'buyers' of the kidneys make off with their booty, it is quite likely that many of their victims will develop infection and may even be left fighting for dear life. That would be an irony. As their kidneys go into saving the lives of others, their own lives become endangered.
Given the sinister nature of the situation, it is for the authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the scandal. Those involved must be hauled in. Additionally, inquiries must be initiated into past instances of such scandalous conduct wherever such behaviour comes to light.
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