LSHA ADOPTS RECOMMENDATIONS ON HUMAN ORGANS AND TISSUES TRANSPLANTATION BILL” 2021

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

Sponsored by: H&H

It would be recalled that the Bill after scaling through its second reading on the floor of the House, went through a Public Hearing in which the Committee culled the observations and contributions of the stakeholders.

Presenting the report on the Floor of the House, Chairman Committee on Health Services, Hon. Hakeem Sokunle stated that the observations made by stakeholders formed the recommendations of the committee.

He highlighted that amongst some of the recommendations include the title of the Bill to be redrafted as “Lagos State Human Organs and Tissues Transplantation Bill” as well as a new sub-clause 3 which states that (a) for determining the death of donor the following criteria must be met cumulatively; No voluntary movement can be observed for one (1) hour; (b) Breathing must have stopped for three (3) minutes after the lung ventilator has been removed; and (c) there is absence of brain stem reflexes.

After the presentation, Members took turns to ask questions on areas they found grey.

Hon. (Engr.) David Setonji opined that clause 3(1) (a) which includes Religious Association Members in the membership of the Organ Harvest and Transplantation Department be expunged and professional medical practitioners are incorporated.

In the same vein, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni who presided over Plenary noted that the membership is a department and not a committee and the religious associations should be expunged to avoid religious complications.

Hon. Tobun Abiodun was of the opinion that the three minutes time frame given to experts to confirm if someone was certified dead as stated in the recommendations should be spread to one hour.

Thereafter, contributions of Members led to the proposal for amendments on some other clauses.

Subsequently, the House adopted the recommendations of the Committee as the resolution of the House subject to the amendment proposed in those areas.