If a physician and the state’s Health Minister state that body donation is unnecessary, it must be understood as a calculated campaign driven by an anti-scientific mindset. Through this, the Minister has strategically articulated a stance that runs counter to the Constitution.
Eminent lawyer and Executive President of ‘Ganadarpan’, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, made these remarks at a press conference organized by the organization.
Apart from Bikash Bhattacharya, those present at the press conference held at the Kolkata Press Club on Monday included Professor (Dr.) Siddhartha Chakraborty, former Principal of National Medical College and KPC Medical College; Sourav Chakraborty, Secretary of Paschim Banga Vigyan Mancha; and Dr. Gopal Das and Dr. Kajal Krishna Banik, Secretaries of the Public Health Committee.
While attending an event at a private hospital, State Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee said, “Jyoti Basu donated his body, but it was of no use to medical science. Donating the entire body yields no benefit; donating organs is more important.”
Dr. Siddhartha Chakraborty stated, “Body donation is intended for medical education and research, whereas organ transplantation serves a different purpose. Organ transplantation is possible in cases of ‘brain death.’ However, the rate of organ transplantation in our state is extremely low; there is a lack of infrastructure, and government support is virtually non-existent.
“Those who argue that body donation is unnecessary may not realize that cadavers are essential for learning organ transplantation through hands-on surgical practice and for medical students to study the science of medicine. There is no substitute for this; hands-on training cannot be achieved through graphic images or AI models.
Dr. Kajal Krishna Banik said, “The body donation movement began with a specific goal and has come a long way. This movement has played a significant role not only in aiding medical science but also in fostering a scientific mindset and anti-superstition attitudes among people.”Cadaver dissection is essential to medical science, both abroad and in our country—past, present, and future. It is one of the most vital components of medical science.
‘Ganadarpan’ has stated that there is an ongoing attempt to drag society backward, with a force opposed to a scientific temper at work. ‘Ganadarpan’, the Science Forum, and the Public Health Committee will carry out sustained awareness campaigns to counter this.
Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya stated that ‘Ganadarpan’ has worked to foster a scientific temper, oppose superstition, and spread a scientifically grounded awareness regarding rational body and organ donation. The state’s Health Minister is a physician himself; when he claims that body donation is unnecessary, one must recognize an attitude contrary to scientific temper at play behind such a statement.They are attempting to block the path of scientific progress. They are strategically propagating views that run counter to the Constitution.
At this juncture, our task is to foster a scientific temper among the people. He further stated, “I condemn these remarks in the strongest possible terms. The Health Minister must withdraw the statement unconditionally.”
Doctors and leaders from the organization ‘Ganadarpan’ have not only voiced opposition to the Health Minister’s remarks but have also called for specific infrastructural improvements and government initiatives. At a press conference, they demanded official measures to raise awareness in accordance with body donation laws. They urged for action ranging from infrastructural upgrades and the organization of seminars and discussion meetings to the recruitment of an adequate number of doctors and health workers for ‘eye banks.’ Additionally, they called for the installation of awareness-raising hoardings outside government medical colleges.
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