Patient Education...

What is Cadaver Transplant?

When a kidney transplant is performed using a kidney from a 'brain-dead, heart-beating' cadaver (dead person), the procedure is referred to as a cadaver transplant.

Cadaver transplant programs are well established in the West. Such a program has been started in India, too, but has a long way to go to become a viable alternative to a living donor program.

A cadaver kidney may take several years to procure. However, if you do not have living related donors, and you wish to register for a cadaver transplant, consult your nephrologists for details.

What do I do if I do not have a related donor?

The law permits you to bring an unrelated donor to your nephrologist for medical assessment as a potential donor. Such a donor, however, will have to appear, accompanied by you, before a specially designated Authorization Committee, comprising of the Law Secretary, Health Secretary, etc, to obtain permission for an unrelated donor transplant. Only after the Authorization Committee has given its approval, can a kidney be removed from such a voluntary unrelated donor and transplanted into your body.

Alternatively, you may choose to register yourself for a cadaver transplant, and await your turn while on dialysis.