ORGAN DONATION (ANG DAAN):

AN OVERVIEW:

This piece of literature will firstly discuss;the current issues in terms of organ donation in this day and age. In addition, the ins and outs of organ transplantation have been mentioned. Thereafter, the points that need to be considered in regards to how relevant they are to all of us have been discussed too.

Most importantly, the arguments for and against from a Hindu perspective have further been brought into attention from various sources backed up with latest statistics.

Finally, a summation and review is made with relation to this topic from the researcher’s analysed collected research

INTRODUCTION:

Organ donation is simply contributing (daan) your organ (Ang) to someone who needs help by the process of transplantation. Moreover, an organ transplant could significantly be helpful in the betterment of another person life. However, this again entirely depends on the bounteousness of the donors and their families.

Currently more than 10,000 people in the UK need a transplant. Three people a day will die waiting due to a shortage of organ donors.

Many would find it extremely hard to disagree that organ donation is a very commendable thing to do. However, it isn’t perfect, as rejection is often a problem, due to lack of suitable donors. This could be further minimised if the organ comes from an individual from the same ethnic background.

ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION:

Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from a donor, in order to replace a recipient’s organ which may be damaged or is failing.

The above process has the option of saving so many lives; however it is also associated with numerous various risks, complications and ethical issues. For instance, some of the ethical issues that may arise are: who should get the organs, For instance an alcoholic who is willing to change or to someone who is in greater need and has never drank before?

Transplantation has got a long history. This is because; there have been many attempts thousands of years ago. For instance, some records show, skin transplants occurring almost 2 thousand years ago.

More and more organs are transplanted as the technology has improved and as medicine has developed to combat organ rejection.

TYPES OF DONORS AND THEIR REASONS FOR DOING IT:

Donors can be either living donors or deceased donors.

Living donors are donors that remain alive and donate a renewable tissue. That is; blood or skin, they may also donate organs’ or parts of organs, such as, the liver, pancreas or bowel. Living donors, often have a vested interest emotionally to help a family member or friend.

Altruistic donors, donate because they feel it is the right thing to do. It’s also very commendable. For example There was a report of 1 lady who donated her organs after death and this resulted in her saving, the lives of 20 severely ill people. These donors often just donate to strangers, or they set out criteria that are important to them, and only those people can receive their organs.

Compensated donors, where people get money for their organs. This is widely practised in some parts of the world, and is legal in some countries Such as Iran, where the market price for a kidney is $2000-4000.

This is open to abuse, as after the tsunami in India, people sold kidney’s for around 60000 rupees (around 700 pounds). The black market sale of organ’s would be obliterated if more people joined the list.

Deceased donors are of two types.

Are usually brain dead, and the organs are kept viable by machines and ventilators until ready for transplantation.

The other types of donor are people who are non-heart beating donors. These organs are essentially retrieved from people soon after death.

Courtesy of: Bolton, Cardiff and Oldham temples research.

Several different reasons may influence the decision to donate. These include the donor being related to the recipient or others may simply be unselfish donors, while other donors may be compensated for their organs or others might not be given permission to donate due to family consents or religious beliefs. Thus, as mentioned previously it entirely depends on the bounteousness of the donors and their families.

FACTS ON THE TYPES OF TRANSPLANTS:

Transplant surgery has now become much common in the last 30 years. This thus, creates a shortage in organ donation.

HINDU DHARMA AND TRANSPLANT (‘FOR’):

  • In Hinduism, there are also traditions which support the use of body parts to benefit others. Scientific papers also form an important part of the Vedas. Sage Sushruta looks at features of organ and limb transplant and documents, the use of skin tissue to reconstruct the nose.
  • In between BC 1500 and BC1000, a sage named VrudaSusruthawrote down the experiments of Danwanthari. In 200AD, another sage named Susrutha had re-worked on the script and made in the now available form of SusruthaSamhita. This scripture gives numerous references about surgeries undergone at that time through its 6 parts and 186 chapters.
  • There are many references that support the concept of organ donation in Hindu scriptures. Daan is the original word in Sanskrit for donation meaning selfless giving. In the list of the ten Niyamas (virtuous acts) Daan comes third.
  • "Of all the things that it is possible to donate, to donate your own body is infinitely more worthwhile."The Manusmruti
  • Life after death is a strong belief of Hindus and is an ongoing process of rebirth. The law of Karma decides which way the soul will go in the next life. The BhagavadGita describes the mortal body and the immortal soul in a simple way like the relationship of clothes to a body:

BhagavadGitachapter 2:22

"vasamsijirnaniyathavihaya
navanigrhnatinaro 'parani
tathasariranivihayajirnany
anyanisamyatinavandidehi."

"As a person puts on new garments
giving up the old ones
the soul similarly accepts new material bodies
giving up the old and useless ones."

  • Scientific and medical treatises (Charaka and SushrutaSamhita) form an important part of the Vedas. Sage Charaka deals with internal medicine while Sage Sushruta includes features of organ and limb transplants.
  • ShikshapatriShlok 83 – This explains the need for completing a pilgrimage and donations.
  • ShikshapatriShlok 138 – If ANYONE comes to you for aid then you must help to the best of your ability.
  • ShikshapatriShlok 147 – This is the one where giving tenth or twentieth of your earnings is emphasised. A Further example of donating.
  • ShikshapatriShlok 182 – Saving a life. Maharaj has allowed NaishtikBhramchari’sto even touch women if it means saving their life.

HINDU DHARMA AND TRANSPLANT (‘AGAINST’):

  • ShikshapatriShlok 16- Maharaj has forbidden us to mutilate any part of the body.

However, this shlok strictly tells us not to mutilate our bodies in a state of altered temperament. Therefore, if the decision is made after careful consideration, then organ donation is permitted.

  • ShikshapatriShlok 31- Maharaj has forbidden us to take any “medicine” that contains alcohol/meat.
  • Maharaj ultimately decides when he wants to take us to his dhaam why are we seeking to prolong this?
  • Maharaj has given us in most instances 2 of everything shouldn’t we consider the other as a spare part.
  • It is through our Karma’s that we have been blessed with this body, why should we share it with others.

OTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER:

  • We accept Medicine, Blood, Operations without question, is this simply the next step?
  • We argue that blood is reproduced therefore should it be acceptable?
  • Once soul has left body then the body is of no value, why not use it to help others?
  • Maharaj has said it is better to die than to take meat.
  • Are we happy to accept organs but are selfish to donate ours??
  • When donating, does it make a difference on the recipient?? Parents, Children, Siblings, relatives, Mother in Law??
  • Is the transplantation seen with Ganpati and Haya-greeva an indirect teaching? For instance, how did Ganpati get his head? And how did Haya-greeva an avatar Vishnu acquire the head of a horse?

CONCLUSION AND RECOMENDATIONS:

Asian in general is in a group that are at increased risk of needing an organ. Then why not think of it and register as an organ donor?

South Asian people are three times more likely to need an organ transplant. Nearly 1,500 South Asian People are currently waiting for a transplant. But only 1% of those on the NHS organ donor register are from the South Asian Community.

Below are further statistics that will make you think how important organ donation is. You may save a life!

SUMMATION AND REVIEW:

From the researcher’s view, there is no right or wrong answer to this topic. It entirely depends on the individuals’ point of view as to whether they find it ethical or not.

However, there have been references from the scriptures for and against the transplant in regards to Hindu Dharma.

The research could have been done, in even more detail, but due to time constraint the researcher was unable to carry our further research.

In addition to the latter point, the researcher found the below activity report reference of good help.

We have tried to be as comprehensive as possible. However, the more detail this topic is the stronger will be the background knowledge of it.

JAY SHREE SWAMINARAYAN

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