Fearing disfiguration, families hesitate to donate cadaver hands

That was the first time they transplanted a hand, which came nine long years after the facility was launched. And there has been none since then, which, experts say, is owing to concerns about disfiguration of the cadaver unlike in the case of internal organs.

“After that transplant, we still have not seen any donations. Other organ donations continue to be high. However, no one has volunteered to donate the hands of any deceased. There is a need to create more awareness,” said Dr Ponnumbala Namasivayam, dean of the hospital. 

It was blood donation that was common initially. Then came eye donations, and before long, the drive to donate other organs picked up pace. “In the same way, we are hoping that hand transplantation also becomes common,” he added.

Stressing on the fact that awareness has increased since the transplant, Dr Ramadevi, head of the Hand Transplant department, said, “We are taking baby steps, but it may take some time. However, we have noticed an increase an awareness after the transplant last month. People have been talking about the idea of hand donations.” 

Disfiguration of the deceased’s body is one of the main reasons why people do not come forward to donate. “Families do not want their kin’s body to be disfigured while performing the last rites. However, we supply prosthetic hands for those who donate hands, and have them ready in our hospital,” added Dr Namasivayam. 

It may be recalled that a 37-year-old deceased contract worker’s hands were transplanted in the beginning of February in a surgery that took around eight hours.