Medico-legal aspects of the first kidney transplantation in Sri Lanka

Abstract

: Every patient has a right to be treated for his or her illness, Denial of this right is inhuman and illegal. Although the first live-donor kidney transplantation in Sri Lanka fulfilled a fundamental human right It was necessary to consider the ethical and the medico-legal aspects of the transplantation prior to the event. It is accepted that the treatment of choice for end stage renal failure is transplantation. Therefore, after considering the available facilities, expertise and the existing law, the view of the author was that there was no legal impediment for a live-donor kidney transplantation in Sri Lanka. The procedures of surgery and anaesthesia and their risks were fully explained to the donor and recipient before their consent was obtained in writing. It was stressed to the family that in case of a severe rejection the whole exercise would be futile. It is expected that the proposed Human Tissues Act will clearly lay down the criteria for live-donor dead-donor transplantations in Sri Lanka in the future.