On February 20, 2026 MOHAN Foundation organised a live interview featuring Dr Thankam S, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru, who donated a kidney as a non-directed altruistic donor to a stranger. The session was moderated by Jaya Jairam and aimed to highlight the motivations, ethical considerations, and systemic challenges surrounding living organ donation in India.
During the conversation, Dr Thankam shared the personal journey that led her to decide to donate a kidney to someone she did not know. She spoke about the emotional and practical challenges she faced, including repeated refusals from the Authorisation Committee, which initially hesitated to approve a donation to an unrelated recipient. Determined to exercise her autonomy and help a patient in need, she approached the court, which ultimately granted permission for the transplant.
The discussion highlighted the broader ethical and regulatory issues surrounding non-directed altruistic donation in India. Dr Sunil Shroff emphasised the importance of Authorisation Committees taking responsibility in evaluating genuine cases of altruistic donation, rather than avoiding decisions due to concerns about accountability. While safeguards are essential to prevent exploitation and organ trafficking, the session underscored the need for systems to also recognise and support sincere donor intentions.
The interview offered valuable insights into the human dimension of organ donation and encouraged greater awareness and dialogue around living donation and donor autonomy in India. Around 100 participants attended the webinar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT6UvUU0vX0&t=2s
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