Inquiry at Salem hospital after organ trade charges

Officials of the public health department are inquiring into charges against the hospital of facilitating organ trade by exploiting the poverty of a daily wager’s family.

According to sources, Sri Rangan (39), a daily wager from Omalur, was knocked down by a private bus while crossing the Salem-Bangalore national highway on February 25. He was taken to Manipal hospitals, located 9 km away in an ambulance, instead of the Omalur GH, which was barely three km from the accident spot.

The hospital declared Sri Rangan to be brain dead and allegedly lured his family to donate organs by promising a huge sum. After taking a written consent from the family members after brokering the deal through a local politician, the hospital harvested the organs and handed over the body of Sri Rangan following a post mortem. 

The Omalur police have are investigating into the accident death of Sri Rangan. Chikkanampatty panchayat former president Vellaiyan alleged that the hospital harvested organs by offering money to the family of the deceased. As a proof of his charge, he said that the hospital did charge for the hospital stay of Sri Rangan. 

While the family members of Sri Rangan refused to speak over the issue, Salem Collector Rohini R Bhajibhakare said that an inquiry would be conducted into the charges. 

Meanwhile M Valarmathi, JD of Health Services, Salem, who inspected the hospital on Wednesday, told media that the nature of treatment given to Sri Rangan was scrutinized during the inquiry. 

“Another round of inquiry will be conducted by Director of Medical Services in Chennai. It is an offence to receive or give money for organ donations. We will submit a report to the Collector,” she said.

However, the Manipal Hospitals has denied the allegations by claiming that all procedures were done only as per norms. “The victim was declared brain dead as per the Human Organs Transplantation Act on Feb 26. As the family was willing to donate organs, it was done as per government norms. One recipient aged 45 years received the liver and another recipient aged 39 years received the kidney,” said a hospital release.