ABU DHABI // A medical expert yesterday called for a national register of organ donors that could save hundreds of lives and reduce demand for kidney dialysis.
A database of those who want to be donors is desperately needed, said Dr Mohamed Hassan, chief of nephrology at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.
The UAE has among the world’s highest rates of diabetes and hypertension – major causes of kidney failure – and the shortage of donors is only likely to get worse.
The law states only transplants from a living relative are allowed.
But a draft law before the Executive Council would allow organ donations from patients declared brain-dead that have indicated on their Emirates ID they wished to be a donor.
“Renal dialysis should ideally be a holding measure only,” said Dr Hassan. “It should bridge the gap between a person’s kidneys failing and new organs being transplanted.”
Studies have shown long-term dialysis is associated with early death and medical problems such as fluid imbalances, muscle cramps, bone diseases and infection. It also severely restricts quality of life, as patients need to always be close to a dialysis centre.
jbell@thenational.ae
jbell@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 109-3 (10ovs)
Salt 30, Malan 24, Trego 23, Jayasuriya 2-14
Bangla Tigers (9.4ovs)
Fletcher 52, Rossouw 31
Bangla Tigers win by six wickets
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The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.