Lucknow: In a bid to address the critical shortage of organ donors amidst rising demand for kidneys, livers, and hearts, Dr Narayan Prasad, head of the renal transplant program at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), debunked the myth that organ donation mutilates or disrespects the deceased.

This misconception, he emphasized, deters people from embracing this life-saving act.

Last year, SGPGIMS performed around 170 transplants. Yet, across India, over three lakh patients — including two lakh needing kidneys and 50,000 awaiting liver or heart transplants — remain in urgent need. In Uttar Pradesh alone, 600–700 transplants are done annually, but the demand far exceeds the supply. Dr Prasad said, "One of the most persistent misconceptions in our society is that organ donation leads to mutilation or disrespect of the deceased. This is a vicious myth," he said. "Organ retrieval is done with utmost dignity. It's time we stop letting misinformation cost lives."

"In 2024, nearly 24,000 people died in road accidents in UP. If just 1% had donated organs, we could have saved 960 lives," he noted.

To bridge the gap between science and belief, SGPGIMS, in collaboration with Alamban Associates Charitable Trust and SOTTO-UP, hosted a panel discussion featuring religious leaders from all major faiths. Religious leaders echoed Dr Prasad's call. Pastor Jerry Gibson Joy spoke of organ donation as a reflection of Jesus Christ's sacrifice. Islamic scholar M Yusuf Mustafa Nadwi affirmed its permissibility in Islam, especially when it is saving lives. Sikh leader Gyani Gurjinder Singh called it sewa, a selfless act, while ISKCON's Aparimey Shyaam Das explained that the body returns to nature, and donating organs is a divine service.

Meanwhile, Padmashri Prof R K Dhiman, transplant surgeon Dr Uday Pratap Singh, and Dr Rajesh Harshvardhan from SOTTO joined the call to action, urging everyone to spread awareness and support organ donation.

The message was clear: organ donation is not just medical — it's moral, spiritual, and life-saving. In India, organ donation day is observed on August 2. The SGPGIMS is observing this month as awareness for organ donation.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes, messages and quotes !

Arvind Chauhan |Aug 4, 2025|TOI