Of Doctors and Donors

The absence of a law banning the sale of organs, hitherto in Pakistan has wrought havoc with the reputation of medical institutions as a whole. Never before, has any department thrown in bad light its hospitals and other medical institutions, as has the “illegal" kidney transplant teams. The weakening has caused wild and rapid ramifications in the administrative structure, that like multiple landslides has brought down the involved department, hospitals, medical qualifications and expertise, paramedical skills and essential support, down in a heap. Like a new growth it sits like some ugly colony at the outskirts of a city;demarcating the very rich and the very poor divide. Its tentacles are operating, in even some of our good hospitals in part or full. Feel bad, for those who know, and look away. Feel sad for those who do not know, and yet they are living amidst heinous people using the same place for their heinous activities. The day is not far when they will come to a rude awakening-when they see these psycho-freaks for what they are despite their knowledge, qualification, status, position and their so called ‘noble profession’.Also the mindless involvement, and the absence of good conscience, in the shadows of clandestine practices,involving surgeons and staff,is very discomforting.
The law must be passed, straightforward and with no excuse for ambiguity. I suggest that the voices of these two personalities who have a stellar role to play; Dr.Farhat Moazam, professor and Chairperson Center of Biomedical ethics and Culture, and Dr.Adeeb Rizvi, must be heard. They must be heeded in every decision making step or meeting, locally or throughout the country. Listening to those who know and can be relied upon and are absolutely dependable; even if they be few, can mobilise and motivate wide and far reaching proper measures. The time to act is now.