An Act Of Faith

One act of kindness can save someone’s life.’

 This message set the tone for the 5th edition of the Organ Donation Drive by Mumbai-based Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH) in association with The Times of India. As part of the initiative, the hospital hosted a seminar on 5 August, titled ‘Spiritual and Scientific Views on Organ Donation’, which was attended by over 600 people, including about 250 silvers.

Organ donation is the ultimate service to mankind and, according to a recent survey, about 500,000 people in India need urgent organ transplants. Despite this dire need, myths and traditional mindsets prevent people from becoming organ donors. Thus, KDAH’s campaign aims to banish misconceptions and spread awareness about the moral and ethical dimensions of organ donation. This seminar, which sought to examine whether religion permits organ donation, was a significant step in this direction. Apart from health experts, a panel of erudite philosophers, scholars and saints from different religions were present to challenge people’s false perceptions of organ donation.