Delhi High Court: Organ Donation Alerts via WhatsApp or Email

The Delhi High Court, in the case of Amar Singh Bhatia & Anr v Sir Ganga Ram Hospital & Ors, mandated that authorities must notify organ donors or recipients, or their close relatives, via email or WhatsApp whenever documentation for organ donation is incomplete.

Justice Prathiba M Singh emphasized the importance of documented communication between the parties involved, ensuring that any deficiencies or procedural requirements are promptly addressed. This directive aims to streamline the organ donation process and enhance transparency, as stated in the Court’s order dated May 20.

The Court instructed all authorization committees established under the Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, to adhere to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s proposed timelines for processing applications, document verification, and scheduling transplant interviews. This decision came in response to a plea from a former Indian Air Force officer diagnosed with kidney failure in March 2017. Justice Singh had previously ordered the government to establish these timelines on January 4, 2024, and they were presented to the Court on May 20.

Having reviewed the matter, the Court mandated sufficient publicity for both the established timelines and its own directives, ensuring full compliance from all stakeholders, including hospitals and government bodies.