Bangalore: Not my kid’s kidney

[Clark]

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/others/Not-my-kids-kidney/articleshow/45634625.cms?

Not my kid’s kidney
By Vandana Kamath

Lydia David, 68, (name changed) had been suffering from a kidney ailment for the past five years. She had to be put on dialysis at least twice a week, since she suffered end-stage renal failure.

She had seven children (five sons and two daughters), each of whom was ready to donate a kidney. But she preferred being on dialysis.In spite of constant counselling from doctors and family members that her children were suitable donors, she did not want to take it from them because of emotional and sentimental reasons. She told them, "I have lived my life; and I do not want you to go under the knife to save my life."

The doctors told her that it would be totally safe, but she still preferred not to take a kidney from any of her children. She died in June this year.

Lydia is not one of her kind. Many senior citizens prefer being on dialysis rather than accepting a donated kidney, even from their own children, despite their readiness and the match being suitable.

Dr Vidyashankar, consultant nephrologist at Vikram Hospital, said, "We have over 30 such cases wherein children are eligible for donating their kidneys to their parents, but the latter are not willing to accept it. We tell them it is absolutely safe, but they still choose to be on dialysis."

In most cases, as per the organ donation policies, those over 65 have a disadvantage because they cannot go in for an organ transplanted from a cadaver. Beyond this, the only option is to receive the organ from a living and related donor. Dr Sonal Asthana, head, multi-organ transplantation, BGS Global Hospital, said, "We explain to them there is no risk and there are a lot of criteria in selecting a living donor. But the emotional connect with the children prohibits them from taking any further steps. About forty per cent of the senior citizens who have an end-stage renal or kidney disease do not agree to go for it."