Photo by JAFAR AHMED on Unsplash
Seven Individuals Arrested
The Delhi Police have apprehended seven individuals including a doctor for their involvement in an organ transplant racket. This operation was uncovered by the Crime Branch, according to an official statement released on Tuesday. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch Amit Goel shared with ANI that the arrests were part of an investigation into an international organ transplant racket. The operation was led by a Bangladeshi national who is identified as the mastermind behind the scheme.
Involvement of Donors and Receivers from Bangladesh
Goel revealed that both the organ donors and recipients involved in this case were from Bangladesh. Among those arrested is a man named Russell, who was responsible for coordinating patients and donors. Additionally, a female doctor who played a role in the transplants has been taken into custody.
Connections to Bangladesh
The police investigation indicates that the individuals involved in this illegal racket had significant connections in Bangladesh, highlighting the international scope of their activities.
High Costs of Transplants in an Ongoing Organ Racket
- Exorbitant Fees for Transplants: The organ transplant operation charged a hefty sum of Rs 25-30 lakhs for each procedure. This high cost raises concerns about accessibility and the ethical implications of such a significant financial burden on patients and their families.
- Cross-Border Involvement: Both the organ donors and recipients involved in this illegal scheme were from Bangladesh. This cross-border element adds a layer of complexity to the investigation, highlighting potential international legal and ethical violations.
- Long-running Illegal Operation: According to the police, this organ racket has been operating since 2019. This indicates a well-established and potentially widespread network involved in these illegal activities over the past several years.
Major Breakthrough in International Organ Transplant Racket
In a significant operation, Delhi Police authorities have apprehended seven individuals including a female doctor in connection with an alleged international organ transplant racket spanning across Bangladesh and the Delhi-NCR region. The Delhi Police Crime Branch initiated this investigation two months ago following a tip-off. According to the authorities, the racket involved numerous donors and recipients from Bangladesh, who were brought to India using forged documents for the surgeries.
Prominent Surgeon Arrested
Among those arrested is a prominent kidney transplant surgeon who worked at a well-known hospital in southeast Delhi. This female doctor is accused of performing transplants on patients from Bangladesh between 2021 and 2023. These operations were allegedly carried out at a private hospital in Noida, where she was a visiting consultant.
Network of Accomplices
In addition to the doctor her assistant and four others—including three Bangladeshi nationals have been detained over the past two weeks. These arrests are part of the Crime Branch's effort to dismantle this international network.
Statements from the Authorities
Amit Goel, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Crime Branch confirmed that seven individuals have been arrested in connection with the racket. He identified the mastermind as a Bangladeshi national. Both donors and recipients were from Bangladesh, facilitated by an individual named Russell who arranged patients and donors. The female doctor who performed the transplants is now in custody and further investigations are underway.
Response from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals
Following the arrests, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals (IAH) issued a statement clarifying that the doctor was not a full-time employee but was engaged on a fee-for-service basis. The hospital emphasized that the procedures under scrutiny were performed at another facility. As a precautionary measure, IAH has suspended the doctor and is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. During the investigation, the hospital had previously provided all requested information to the Crime Branch.
Official Statement
"The Delhi Police's Crime Branch has taken custody of a doctor who was engaged on a fee-for-service basis and not on our payroll. This action followed an investigation into procedures performed at another hospital and it appears to be unrelated to any actions at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals (IAH). Given this police action, IAH has suspended the doctor and said Indraprastha Hospital in a statement. This case highlights the ongoing challenges in combating illegal organ trade and emphasises the need for stringent checks and international cooperation.
The Global Organ Donor Shortage and Its Consequences
- A Pressing Issue: Around the world, there is a severe shortage of organ donors for patients suffering from end-stage organ diseases who need transplants. This gap between supply and demand has led to the rise of organ trafficking where vulnerable, poor individuals are exploited and forced to sell their organs.
- Legislative Measures to Combat Organ Trafficking: To tackle this serious issue and ensure that organs from deceased donors are allocated fairly, many countries have enacted laws regulating organ transplants. In India, such a law was passed in 1994 known as the Transplantation of Human Organs Act with detailed rules established in 1995.
Key Provisions of the Act
- Legalization of Brain-Stem Death: A crucial element of the Act is the recognition of brain-stem death as a legal definition of death. This allows for the retrieval of organs from patients who are brain-stem dead, significantly expanding the potential donor pool.
- Regulation of Organ Removal: The Act includes strict regulations on the removal of organs from both deceased and living donors. These rules are designed to prevent illegal activities and ensure ethical practices in organ transplantation.
Hospital and Medical Practitioner Regulations
Hospitals and medical practitioners involved in organ transplants are also subject to stringent regulations. These measures are intended to uphold high standards of medical practice and patient care in transplant procedures.
Punishments for Violations
To deter illegal activities and non-compliance, the Act imposes severe penalties on those who violate its provisions. Unfortunately, transplant team doctors often bear the brunt of these penalties by facing significant legal risks.
Challenges and Complexities
While the Act has effectively regulated organ transplants from both living and deceased donors, it has also introduced challenges. For instance, obtaining approval for living donor transplants has become more difficult even in cases involving related donors. Additionally, swap transplants or paired donations between related pairs are treated as unrelated donor transplants by making the approval process lengthy and cumbersome.
Unresolved Issues
Despite the law allowing living unrelated transplants if no commercial transactions are involved, swap transplants between unrelated pairs are not permitted. This inconsistency remains a perplexing aspect of the regulations, adding further complications to the transplant process. While the Transplantation of Human Organs Act has brought much-needed regulation to the field of organ transplants in India, it has also created new hurdles. The stringent rules and harsh penalties have had mixed outcomes, protecting against exploitation but also complicating legitimate transplant procedures. Addressing these complexities is essential to improve the organ donation and transplant landscape.
. . .
References: