Suspect panel to probe its own kidney scandal

The state's kidney transplantation authorisation committee, given the task of sanctioning donors and itself under scrutiny for a possible role in a recent kidney donor racket, may also have the strange role of investigating the very scandal it could be involved in.

The man the state government appointed to head the investigation, G. Srinath, the director of medical education said here, "We are waiting orders from our bosses which are likely to come as soon as the police submits its investigation report to."

Asked how if the committee was under suspicion it could investigate the racket, he replied it was for the government to decide. "So far, we have not received any orders nor, are there any indications of a change in the committee. Pointing a finger is easy, unless allegations are proved, everyone is clean."

The state government has not ruled out the possibility of replacing members of the committee before the investigation began and this was hinted at by the Health Minister Kodela Sivaprasada Rao. "I ordered the investigation as I did not suspect any of the doctors on the committee. But as allegations have been made against it, the government is open to the idea of changes."

The five member committee was made up of the then director of medical education, Rama Devi and two urologists – Rama Raju and Jyothi Reddy and two nephrologists – Girish Narayan and Pradeep Deshpande. Later, Srinath became the chairperson after routinely taking over from Rama Devi.

Any officer posted as DME automatically heads the committee. The entire committee offered to resign some months ago when another kidney racket was exposed.

The whole issue of legally authorised kidney transplants has been put in danger now and the additional commissioner of police (coordination), A K Khan, confirmed here the AP transplantation of human organs act and rules, 1995 did not even permit police to take action or allow a court to admit a case unless it was approved by the committee.

Illegal transplants

- Six dealers were arrested and held after the racket was exposed and according to Khan, five big hospitals suspected of performing 28 illegal kidney transplants.

- A man from Bellary in Karnataka, B Subbu, 26, sold his kidney for Rs60,000. 'Four days after Sankranti – a Hindu festival- last year, I sold my kidney for Rs 70,000,' another donor, Ramana admitted, despite his wife objecting.

- A 38-year-old man from Srikakulam, K Ratnakar, approached by the same dealer said he sold his kidney for Rs 65,000. A man from East Godavari, Chekka Raghu, 21, said he was paid Rs. 70,000. Their profile: young -between the ages 22-33, poor and illiterate. Most claimed the usual ignorance of the law banning the trade.