UAE makes organ transplant easier

The law allows living people, mentally and physically fit and above the age of 21, to donate a life-sustaining organ that can be removed without endangering the donor.

Asma Ali Zain

Published: Thu 5 Aug 2010, 2:52 PM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 11:05 AM

Thereby making it legally easier for vital human organs of the dead to be used in a transplant.

The bylaws of the Federal Law on Organ Transplant, approved by the UAE Health Council last month, makes it clear now that a person can bequeath the kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and heart upon death to save another life.

Experts say this national donor system will cut short the long waiting time and potentially help save hundreds of lives. It will also reduce long-term financial costs for those surviving on machines or being sent abroad for treatment.

However, the donor has to give written approval willed in the presence of two witnesses during his lifetime. The law allows donors to change their mind.

“The law enables multi-organ donation after death in different phases based on the need due to the international lack of donated organs,” said Dr Ali Abdulkareem Al Obaidli, Consultant in Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City.

A number of ministry approved centres will be set up around the country to facilitate cadaver transplants. The ministry will also train physicians, nurses and transplant teams. The public will also be duly educated.

Though the transplant law has existed since 1993, it did not define how doctors could use it practically for surgeries. The UAE guidelines on the law — developed by the National Organ Transplant Committee — were recently signed by the Health Minister, Dr Hanif Hassan. The committee includes physicians as well as legal and Shariah experts.

The committee is working on making the process easier for people. “We are still deciding whether we should follow the Spanish way and include the donor’s consent in his driving licence or identity card or follow other systems,” said an expert who helped draft the guidelines.

Educating the public on donating an organ is a challenge that healthcare providers are expecting. “In Islam, we have the concept of sadiqa (giving away in the name of Allah) but still it will be a challenge for us; for example, to convince a father to give away the organs of his dead child to save another life,” he said. Asma Ali Zain