Organ donation refers to the consent to transfer an organ from one body to another, enabling the recipient to continue living. Donation of organs, such as a kidney or part of the liver, can occur either from a living person or after death. I registered as a donor years ago when my doctor informed me that my kidneys were perfectly healthy for someone my age. Organs that can be donated include the kidneys, heart, part of the liver, lungs, corneas, or other healthy tissues.
Organ donation is considered a noble humanitarian act, and it is practiced worldwide except in Afghanistan. It represents the pinnacle of selflessness, especially when done before one dies. The medical removal of organs after death is governed by strict conditions to protect the dignity of the deceased and ensure the success of the transplant. This procedure is performed only after the donor’s death has been fully verified. Each donated organ has a limited window of viability for transplantation. For example, the heart and lungs remain viable for approximately four to six hours, the liver for 12 to 18 hours, and the kidneys for up to 24 hours, provided they are preserved properly in special cooling solutions. Almost all countries prohibit the removal of organs that affect genetic or reproductive identity, such as gonads and germ cells. Medical and legal regulations also forbid the sale of organs or receiving any form of financial compensation for them. Despite these restrictions, advertisements offering to buy human organs for money are occasionally found posted in public spaces.
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Out of its commitment to promoting organ donation, the Kuwait Society for Organ Transplantation, established 40 years ago, hosted the 19th World Congress of the Asian Society of Organ Transplantation after winning a strong competition against South Korea and Thailand. The congress brought together over 700 specialists, including 120 speakers representing most countries from around the world. It was held under the patronage of the Minister of Health and in the presence of ambassadors from participating Asian countries.
Among the invited guests was the Director of the Institute for Health Research at the University of Bedfordshire Prof. Gurch Randhawa. He brought copies of a medical-jurisprudential book that he co-authored on organ donation in Islam with the intention of distributing them free of charge to conference participants. However, due to concerns over the content, the Ministry of Information confiscated the copies to ensure that they did not pose a moral threat. The ministry officials questioned the professor for bringing multiple copies of the book.
They overlooked his distinguished medical career, his academic credentials, and his photographs with prominent leaders, all of which should have led to more favorable treatment. The conference ended, and those who had proposed and advocated for hosting it in Kuwait likely regretted their efforts. The guests departed Kuwait International Airport a few days ago, while the book remains under review and may still be confiscated, despite having been distributed at several similar conferences, most recently in Abu Dhabi a year earlier. The issue with the book lies in its inclusion of opinions and contributions from religious scholars of diverse backgrounds on organ donation, allowing readers to explore different Islamic traditions and legal methodologies. The book presents qualitative research that explores the views and potential concerns of Muslim families regarding organ donation from their loved ones. It also highlights the efforts of academics and community advocates who work with diverse Muslim communities to provide them with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions about organ donation. What happened was deeply unfortunate.
By Ahmad alsarraf
email: [email protected]
