A marriage in the UAE came to an end due to a husband’s refusal to donate an organ to his wife, who urgently needed a liver transplant. This revelation was made during the UAE Organ Donation and Transplantation Congress 2024 by Dr. Luis Campos, Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Director at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
According to a Khaleej Times report, the couple had legally registered their marriage but had not yet started living together when the wife experienced complete liver failure. Despite her family’s reluctance to involve the husband’s family, the wife insisted that he get tested to determine if he could be a suitable organ donor. The husband agreed to undergo testing but withdrew his willingness to donate after learning that his father objected to the idea.
As a result, the wife made the difficult decision to file for divorce. Fortunately, her cousin later volunteered to get tested and turned out to be a compatible donor. She underwent the liver transplant, leading to a successful recovery, and she is now enjoying a healthy and content life.
Dr. Luis Campos emphasized that despite awareness campaigns in the UAE, there is still hesitancy among residents and citizens when it comes to organ transplantation. Changing this mentality may require time, and it could take a generation before people view organ donation more positively.
One challenge in promoting organ donation in the UAE is the lack of effective tools to convince families. Factors such as religious beliefs or differences in religion and race often play a role in these decisions, even though many religious leaders have clarified that organ donation does not contradict religious beliefs.
Dr. Campos drew a parallel to successful awareness campaigns in countries like the USA, where educating children about recycling led to changes in family behavior. Similar efforts are being made in the UAE, with volunteers visiting schools and colleges to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.
Dr. Ali Abdulkarim Al Obaidli, Chairman of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation, stressed the importance of patients’ rights to receive organ transplants when needed. He also called for health insurance to cover organ donation and transplantation, aligning with the United Nations sustainable development goals.
The UAE Organ Donation and Transplantation Congress 2024 is a four-day event that aims to highlight the accomplishments of the Hayat National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue, operating under the Ministry of Health and Prevention. The program has received international recognition for its impressive performance, making it the world’s best and fastest-growing organ donation program. The UAE has seen a remarkable 417% increase in the number of donors after death per million population over the past five years.