Ajit Pawar addresses the press outside the Assembly. (Express Photo) Ajit Pawar addresses the press outside the Assembly. (Express Photo)

Maharashtra government on Friday gave the nod for including grandparents and grandchildren in organ donation and widened the definition of relatives to maternal and paternal uncle and aunts.

The changes to the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act, 2011 was adopted by the assembly. Minister for higher and medical education Vinod Tawde brought the resolution.

However, mentally challenged and small children have been strictly exempted from organ donation.

It has emphasised that foreign patients will not be allowed organ transplant from Indian donors.

The changes will boost human organ transplantation.

It may be mentioned that the central government had effected the amendments to the act in 2011.

It was not incorporated in the state. The state government gave the nod to the changes on Friday on the same lines of the centre.

Another important decision relates to relaxing norms for removing eyes from dead patients. Till now it was mandatory that ophthalmologist should remove eyes from the dead person.

However, the government has indicated that a technician in the ophthalmologist department would be allowed to remove the eyes after patients pass away. However, it highlighted that if someone has given in writing that organs should not be removed, it should be strictly honoured.

A medical practitioner can declare a person brain dead.

In the past, it was a must to have a neurologist or neurosurgeon to make such a declaration.

To promote organ donation and save lives, a mechanism would be put in place to request the kith and kin of brain dead patients in hospitals to give permission for organ transplant.

However, a three-member committee would be set up to monitor and grant permission for organ donation instead of resting the decision with only medical education secretary.

The amendments included tissue transplant used for correcting physical disability. The government stressed that illegal trade of organs would be strictly dealt with and heavy punishment would be imposed on those found indulging in unfair practices.

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