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Straight ANSWERS
<B>With your experience of cornea transplants, how do you view the implementation of the Human Tissue (removal, preservation and transplant) Bill?</B>
I think it is a good initiative. I was the one to revive cornea transplants in Mauritius with the help and support of the Lions’ Club, of which I was the departmental manager. The idea goes back to 1966 when my brother proposed the idea. Dr Pillay took it up again afterwards but the practice was revived only four or five years ago. I hope that this bill will get through.
<B> Why should the law restrict transplants to the public service? Is the fear of organ traffic justified?</B>
I suppose that the aim of restricting transplants to the public service is indeed to avoid any trafficking. Such a bill should be closely monitored to avoid any abuse. As for the eye clinic, it is submitted to heavy control and is very well structured. As for kidney transplants, only close relatives can give their organs. In both cases, I believe the goal is to avoid any trafficking. If the control has involve transplants being done only in the public service, then it should be so.
<B>According to you, why is there so much debate around this issue? What do people contest and why?</B>
I am not sure that Mauritians are ready to give their organs. The main problem here is taboos and particularly religious ones. This is why many people do not offer to be donors. I think that religious dignitaries should come to the forefront to explain people that they do not do anything wrong when they give their organs. People should think of their country before thinking of themselves.
<B> From a medical point of view, do transplants contain risks for the recipient?</B>
Of course, risks exist. This is why, in my field, a certain number of tests have to be done on the cornea before it is transplanted. Before, we used to do the transplants on the same day but now they can be preserved to do all necessary tests. They are prepared in a laboratory to make sure that the donor does not have illnesses like syphilis, AIDS or hepatitis.
<B>Dr Indurdeo Gaya
Eye specialist</B>
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