A bone marrow donor is a person who is willing to donate his/her bone marrow to help patient/patients who have been recommended to undergo a bone marrow transplant. Performed at all the leading hospitals, bone marrow transplant in Pune has changed the lives of hundreds of patients and given a new ray of hope to many more. When we think of a donor, the first image that comes to our mind is that of a healthy adult, however, you will be surprised to note that it is not only the grown-ups but also small kids who can donate their bone marrow.    

Your child’s opinion matters

It is extremely important to consider a child’s opinion before performing any invasive procedure on his/her body. Since children are not capable of taking such major decisions on their own, it is usually the parents who give consent. The mere fact that a child cannot actually give consent for such interventions does not mean that their opinion should be weighed lightly. All the parents want the best for their child and would never let any harm come in their way. As per the BMT specialists in Pune, it is pertinent to note that if you are giving consent for your child to become a bone marrow donor, the benefits of the procedure should outnumber the risks and also the risks should not be life-threatening.  

Doctors carry out the procedure only after making sure that it is in the best interest of the child. The child’s overall health is evaluated by performing some tests and screenings. If there are any doubts regarding the outcome of the procedure, then the chances of the doctor performing such intervention are quite low, if none. This is the reason why when someone needs a bone marrow transplant, adult donors are the first resort. Children are very rarely used as a bone marrow donor. You can find the best hospital in Pune, where such interventions are performed on a daily basis.

Making the right decision

Making such a decision on behalf of your child is definitely a great responsibility. Parents have to make sure that whatever they decide is morally and ethically correct. The decision cannot be taken without weighing all the potential outcomes. The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Bioethics, commonly known as AAPCOB, lays down a few conditions that should be met, for a child to become a bone marrow donor. These are as under

•  if no adult match is found for the child that needs the transplant
•  if there are potential benefits to the recipient
•  the donor and the recipient have a strong personal relationship  

Making sure that your child is prepared

When we talk about the outcome of the procedure, it includes medical as well as the psychological and emotional impact of the whole procedure. Such interventions can be overwhelming for adults, let alone for kids. The post-procedural pain and discomfort fade within a few days but the psychological impact lasts long and this calls for the need for additional moral concern. It is very important that you talk to your child about the procedure in a very subtle tone and explain it to them why is it so important. The mental preparation of your child is as important as their physical preparation.