After alleged corruption in the approval process put the kidney transplant procedure of 40-year-old Jamaluddin Khan in limbo, the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) has asked the kidney donor to appear for another round of interviews and scrutiny on Thursday.
DMER director Dr. Pravin Shingare said, “We will scrutinise the notes made by the authorisation committee in JJ Hospital and whether they were convinced that the donor was giving her organ out of love and affection for the patient and not for any other reason. Fresh interviews with the donor and her relatives will be conducted as well.” He said a no-objection certificate will be given after a new set of people is convinced about the transplant.
The Anti Corruption Bureau arrested transplant coordinators Tushar Savarkar from JJ Hospital and Sachin Salve from SL Raheja Fortis Hospital for demanding a bribe of ₹1.5 lakh to clear Mr. Khan’s file.
Mr Khan’s brother-in-law’s wife Mairun Nessa had agreed to donate her kidney as she was the only match in their family. On September 18, the patient, donor and other family members were interviewed by the authorisation committee that meet in JJ Hospital. However, Mr. Savarkar allegedly told the family that Ms. Nessa fumbled during the interview and their case may be rejected.
“I don’t want my brother’s condition to deteriorate while the investigations go on. I hope we get the NOC for the transplant soon,” Mr. Khan’s brother Zakir said.
On Wednesday, a three-member committee comprising Dr. Prakash Wakode, joint director of DMER; Dr. Ajay Bhandarwar, head of surgery, JJ Hospital; and Dr. V. Kale, vice dean of JJ Hospital, was formed to look into the case and submit a report within 10 days. The DMER will issue a show case notice to SL Raheja Fortis Hospital. “Besides the members of the authorisation committee and Mr. Savarkar, the inquiry committee will also call Mr. Salve and authorities from SL Raheja Fortis Hospital for questioning. They should be able to explain why their transplant licence should not be cancelled,” Dr. Shingare said. He said new members will temporarily take charge of the authorisation committee.
The authorisation committee conducts the interviews with video recording and verbally conveys the outcome to the patient and donor, said a doctor who had been a part of the committee earlier. In Mr. Khan’s case, the committee withheld its decision and had asked for more documents.
