India will slowly move towards a presumed consent system like Spain’s, if Health Minister A. Ramadoss has his way. However, he knows that Indians are normally reluctant to donate organs. So he plans to introduce it only for corneas with brain dead patients in government hospitals. An Indian delegation recently visited Spain to gather information on the system there. Ten organ retrieval and banking organisations are also being set up around the country and there are plans to give incentives to relatives who consent to organ retrieval from brain dead patients. These include a 50% discount on second-class rail tickets, free medical check-ups for life, and preferred status on organ transplant waiting lists. Despite the minister’s enthusiasm, transplant surgeons are not impressed. “Presumed consent will cause utter chaos,” says Dr Deepak Natarajan, a cardiologist. “What India needs is a large-scale awareness campaign on the benefits of organ donation. Those who finally donate should be given incentives like jobs for their kin besides being felicitated in public.” ~ Times of India, Mar 11