Kidney trade raises its head in city

CHENNAI: The testimony of a resident from Tsunami Quarters in Tondiarpet has brought to light the resurgence of kidney sales which had, by and large, remained dormant for the last two years. Extensive media reports in 2007 had helped the authorities crack down on kidney sales, resulting in blacklisting of some hospitals and arrest of some members of the gang.
Now, the sales seem to have been replaced with kidney donations' that take place with all clearances and no-objection-certificates.Though the terminology has changed, TOI investigations revealed that the trade remains the same, with economically poor people, mostly women, being lured to donate their kidney for monetary gains.
A case in point is that of Geetha (name changed), a resident of HLL Nagar, Tsunami Quarters, who donated her kidney, to a "family friend" for a "token of reciprocation" of Rs 80,000 five months ago. People in the neighbourhood told TOI that such deals continue to happen clandestinely.
"I had no choice. When debts mounted, my husband, who used to work in a grocery store in Royapuram, committed suicide. I have two children to bring up. My husband's former employer approached me saying his 14-year-old son wanted a kidney. When he offered me the money, I agreed," says Geetha.
Probably because some hospitals in the state were under the scanner, Geetha was taken to a hospital in Thrissur, Kerala. The operation was performed at the nephrology and renal transaction department of a hi-tech hospital.
Geetha said, "Following the operation in August 2008, I was brought back to my residence. Only after coming back did I realize the mistake I had done, as my health began to deteriorate. I cannot do any manual labour and even carrying water from the tap to my house has become an ordeal. I go to the doctor at least thrice a month and take pain-killers regularly." She added, "But the money has helped my children study and the loan sharks are not knocking at my door."
Geetha said she met four other women who had gone to donate kidneys at the hospital in Kerala. When contacted, the hospital authorities said that they had carried out the operation after getting the no-objection certificates from both the states. "We offer a standard package of Rs 1.5 lakh for kidney transplantations. Only after both the donor and the receiver are approved by various authorization committees did we proceed with the transplant. We are unaware of any cash transaction that may have taken place," said a senior doctor at the hospital.
Geetha's case, which is one of many, has highlighted that despite the sale of kidneys being reduced, there are still people in the city, who are pushed to a point where they have no choice but to donate' a body organ to ensure the survival of their families. Maria Selvam, a local community leader, said, "Earlier there used to be brokers and sale of kidneys was an open secret. Now, it is done in a more clandestine way. When someone is pushed to an end and has no money, all they need to do is ask someone who has sold a kidney for a contact and then approach that person."