An online masterclass on “Exploring Legal Framework for Living Donor Transplants: Case-Based Discussions” was held on April 26, 2025. Living donor transplants come with legal, ethical, and procedural complexities that can deeply impact both donors and recipients. Misunderstandings or gaps in legal clarity can delay transplants, cause emotional distress, and sometimes lead to legal battles.
The masterclass was structured to address this gap by analyzing the legal framework within the context of real-world case studies.
The speakers included
An online poll was conducted to explore participants’ perceptions of the various approval bodies responsible for living donor transplantation.
In his introduction, Mr. Nethaji pointed out that transplant coordinators sometimes seek approvals from incorrect authorities, either due to lack of clarity or out of caution. This often leads to unnecessary delays and impose additional burdens on families.
This was followed by an overview of the approval bodies - such as the Competent Authority and Authorization Committees at various administrative levels (state, regional, and hospital-based) - presented by Ms. Sujatha Suriyamoorthi (MOHAN Foundation), who detailed their structure, functions, and responsibilities.
Mr. Gipson John (Aster Hospitals, Bengaluru) and Ms. Bhanu V (JIPMER, Puducherry) presented case discussions on living donor transplants between siblings where the biological relationship could not be conclusively established or was later found to be that of half-siblings during the legal workup.
The discussion highlighted the additional documentation required, the need to approach multiple committees, delays in obtaining approvals, and the resulting financial, psychological, and emotional strain on families. The session also addressed differences in state-level protocols and individual institutional policies in facilitating the transplant approval process.
-ACT,-2011.gif){kind=spacer}
