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Transplantation of Human Organs Act: Implementation needed

4 || risingbd.com

Published: 08:01, 21 July 2017   Update: 15:18, 26 July 2020
Transplantation of Human Organs Act:  Implementation needed

The Cabinet recently approved the draft law, ‘Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 2017’, aiming to check the illegal trade of human organs. Under this all must obtain approvals from the government to transplant human organs. The proposed law has also expanded the definition of “close relatives” willing to donate body organs.

The draft law has a provision for two years of rigorous imprisonment or Tk five lakh fine or both for violation of the law. Earlier, it was seven years of imprisonment or Tk three lakh fine or both for violation of the law.

Under the proposed law, apart from parents, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, husbands and wives, grandfathers, grandmothers, grandchildren and cousins can also donate and take organs.

In the previous, only 12 relatives like son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, uncle and aunt used to donate and take organs. However, there is no need to be close relative for the eye and bone combination.

Besides, all hospitals transplanting human organs must apply seeking approvals to provide such medical treatments within 60 days of the enactment of the proposed amendments. However, the government hospitals which have specialized units will not need this permission.

Following the Cabinet meeting, Additional Cabinet Secretary Ashraf Shamim said some new clauses have been added as well. He also hoped that the new law would help stop illegal trade of organs in the name of organ donation. Side-by-side, it will improve the country’s medical service standard. 

As per law, transplantation of human organs means transplantation of kidney, heart, lung, liver, tissue and some other organs. It is forbidden to donate and take organs without close relative. But due to proper law, a bad situation has been prevailing in the country.

According to the news published in the media, in the name of organ donation, illegal trade of organs has been continuing in the country for more than a decade. A section is engaged in doing business and illegal trafficking of human organs. Centering kidney business, a group of middlemen who are dishonest are active countrywide.  Many people sell their kidneys due to poverty and lack of knowledge. But it is important to stop this illegal and inhuman business.

It is our expectations that through the amendment of law, these illegal activities will be stopped. Now this law needs to be implemented quickly. It is expected that if the draft law is acted and implemented properly, it will help stop illegal trade of human organs  and long-term complications in this regard, thus contributing to the development in medical science.




risingbd / Dhaka / July 21, 2017 / Ali Nowsher/Mukul

 

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