A probe into the kidney transplantation scandal in two hospitals in Kozhikode district of Kerala has found the hospitals and doctors not guilty of the charges and said money transaction had taken place between the donors and the recipients.

The report of the enquiry committee of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Kerala Branch, released by the IMA Ethics Committee chairman Dr M Bhaskaran and IMA state president Dr P T Cherian said there was no evidence to show that the hospital authorities and doctors directly or indirectly influenced in any way the kidney donors to give their kidney. Money transactions have taken place without the knowledge of hospitals authorities and doctors, the report said.

The enquiry was conducted into the charges that the hospitals had made a deal with kidney donors and performed transplantation violating the norms under the act. It was reported that tribals of Idukki districts were exploited by "agents" with promise of huge amount for their organ. However, all donors interviewed admitted that they were giving their kidney willingly and no donor was compelled or persuaded to give his or her kidney, the report said, which stated further that some donors were cheated by agents by not paying the promised amount.

The Authorisation Committee, set up under the Transplantation of Human Organ Act 1994, failed to detect the illegal money transactions between some of the donors and recipients through agents, the report said.

Recommending that cadaveric and brain-death transplantations be promoted, the report calls for doctors and hospital management authorities be involved in the screening process for eliminating the middlemen or agents. The report also recommended the Iranian LURD Transplantation programme with modification.

As per the programme, there would be a Screening Committee at every district, consisting of the district collector, district panchayat president, concerned panchayat president, panchayat member, district medical officer, one physician, two social workers and two office-bearers of recognised voluntary organisations.

Dr. Cherian said the number of kidney related patients were on the increase in Kerala. The transplantation treatment, according to him, was a very intricate, expensive and delicate procedure.