Airtimes: Indian Standard Times

Sat, July 8 at 1130am and 1930hrs

Sun, July 9 at 1130am

Every week, over 125 people die waiting for life-saving organ transplants. The generous people who elect to be living donors give the gift of life when they choose to donate their organs. Living organ donors elect to give away their kidneys and livers to family, friends and even anonymous strangers.

In a revealing hour-long documentary, CNN’s medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen examines the complex ethical issues and post-operative challenges around living organ donation for CNN PRESENTS: BODY PARTS.

As the need for organs grows, the number of live donations is overtaking that from cadavers. A growing number of “Good Samaritan” donors – people who give their organs to strangers – are fuelling debate over who is appropriate for donation. BODY PARTS found that some surgeons have approved as donors children as young as 10, drug addicts, even people who were mentally ill.

Although organ recipients generally receive lifelong care after their surgeries, the screening and follow up for organ donors is far less regulated or studied. Often, it is the responsibility of the donors—or their families and friends—to bear the physical, emotional and financial burdens that follow some procedures.

BODY PARTS examines the experiences of several living donors and their families as they make their gift-of-life decisions – with sometimes very unfortunate consequences.

CNN PRESENTS is CNN International’s award-winning documentary series, showcasing compelling work of significant impact from esteemed filmmakers. For more CNN International programming information, please visit our website at www.cnnasiapacific.com.