IN a society where conservative beliefs often impede progress on crucial issues, the endorsement of organ transplantation, including cadaver donation, by a number of well-known religious scholars was very reassuring.

On Wednesday, ulema attending a programme at the Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre at Karachi University not only supported the life-lengthening medical procedure but praised the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation for its efforts in this regard.

The consensus was not unanimous, and true to form Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani, who heads the Council of Islamic Ideology, raised concerns about afterlife and interfaith issues that bordered on the absurd.

Take a look: Ulema support organ transplant as CII chief prevaricates

Fortunately, scholars rivalling him in stature had different views, with Mufti Munibur Rehman saying that there was nothing wrong in transplanting organs, regardless of the faith of the donor and recipient. And why should they not take this enlightened view?

Even ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia is carrying out transplantations, after these were cleared by the ulema there, while the procedure is also routine in Iran. Indeed, instead of allowing organ transplantation to be obfuscated by extraneous considerations, it should be promoted as a praiseworthy intervention — governed by medical ethics — that saves lives.

Although the procedure of cadaveric organ donation is commonplace in much of the world, including Muslim countries, it has had a long, hard climb in Pakistan.

Legislation on the matter went back and forth between the two houses of parliament for years, and the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act was finally signed into law in 2010. Next came the formidable task of altering societal confusions and prejudices.

Given the situation in Pakistan, getting the religious lobby on board has been important, and SIUT must be given the credit for leading the effort to change mindsets against the procedure as well as investing in the necessary infrastructure, including the training of doctors.

Such training can hopefully be extended to hospitals across the country. However, the bigger challenge is instilling awareness and removing inhibitions in society — the ulema’s endorsement was a step in that direction — so that more and more people agree to become donors after death.

There are long lists of patients who need transplant; and unless there is a concerted effort to dispel myths and promote donations such lists will only grow.

A good beginning could be made at schools where biology books could spell out the different ways of giving a new lease of life to seriously ill patients.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2015

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