Bridging Ethics, Religion, and Policy: Transforming Organ Donation in South Asia

Abstract

Background:
Organ transplantation provides a vital solution for patients with end-stage organ failure; however, deceased organ donation rates in South Asia remain critically low. Cultural taboos, religious misconceptions, ethical concerns about brain death, and systemic socioeconomic inequities hinder donation efforts. Public mistrust and policy inconsistencies further exacerbate the shortage of available organs.

Objective:
This research explores how ethics, religion, and policy intersect to influence organ donation practices in South Asia. It identifies key barriers and proposes culturally appropriate strategies to increase deceased donation rates while ensuring equitable, ethical, and sustainable transplantation systems.

Methods:
A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and document analysis involving transplant surgeons, medical students, NGOs, and transplant candidates. A thematic analysis identified recurrent ethical, religious, and policy-related challenges. Literature review, expert consultations, and examination of religious texts and regional policies informed the findings.

Key findings:
Organ donation in South Asia faces multifactorial barriers. Public misconceptions about brain death are widespread, often conflated with coma or vegetative states. Religious hesitancy persists despite theological endorsements for donation in Islam, Hinduism, and Jainism. Rural populations and low-income groups experience greater reluctance due to cultural beliefs about bodily integrity and systemic inequities in healthcare access. Policy gaps, inconsistent brain death criteria, and inadequate infrastructure hinder donor recruitment and transplantation logistics. Community distrust toward healthcare institutions impedes acceptance of deceased donation. Collaborative efforts between healthcare professionals and religious leaders, combined with public education and policy reforms, emerged as critical pathways for improvement.

Conclusion & Recommendations:
Transforming organ donation in South Asia requires a multifaceted approach integrating ethical governance, religious support, and technological innovation. Key recommendations include establishing standardized brain death criteria, implementing opt-out consent trials with religious leader support, appointing transplant coordinators, and creating AI-based organ matching systems. Development of regional organ-sharing networks, drone transport, blockchain donor registries, and green corridors can improve efficiency and transparency. Religious endorsement libraries, hospital chaplaincies, and culturally tailored education campaigns can foster trust and awareness. Equitable financial protections, anti-trafficking enforcement, and oversight of emerging transplantation technologies are essential to build sustainable, ethical organ donation systems across South Asia.