Priest's donation of kidney to Hindu wins headlines in India
October 01, 2009
The unprecedented gesture of a Catholic priest donating his kidney to save the life of a Hindu man has made flurry of headlines in India's southern Kerala state.
Father Davis Chiramel of the Thrissur archdiocese agreed to give his kidney to Gopinathan Chakkamadathil, the breadwinner for a Hindu family, when doctors had trouble finding another suitable donor. The 7-hour transplant operation was described by doctors as a success, enabling the recipient to survive without dialysis.
The media haild the "courage and extraordinary compassion" of the priest, but Father Chiramel downplayed the action. “We have been called to support and sustain life. I would like others also to do the same,” he said. Coincidentally Father Chiramel is the founder and general secretary of the Accident Care and Transport Service, which rushes accident victims to hospitals.
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