Chicago's Kidney donor doctor in India for World Kidney Day

Dr Hou spoke about the renal disorders in pregnant women at an event held by the Madras Medical Mission and the Tamilnadu Kidney Research Foundation (TANKER).

Usually family members or friends donate kidneys, but this was the first time that a doctor had donated an organ to an unrelated patient.

The selfless act
“I've had patients ask me for a kidney, but the woman I finally gave it to never asked me. My only criterion was that I should give it to someone smaller than me, and that really narrows it down,” Dr Hou said.

Adding further, she said that the process of evaluating a donor's intent and physical condition is very important. People cannot be easily convinced that they should be donating. The person willing to donate kidney must be physically fit with good kidney function. The donor must be free from any infection or cancer that he could give to the recipient.

“When I donated, nobody was pressuring me. If you believe in the brotherhood of man, then there are no unrelated donors,” she said.

Dr Susan Hou, an expert on renal disorders in pregnancy, said her transplant experience was great but her husband, professor Mark Moli, an expert on prolactin, endocrine testing during pregnancy and management of many endocrine problems during pregnancy, was quite anxious about her decision.

Dr Hou noted that every nephrologist should donate his kidney for the cause of health care.

Pregnancy and renal disorders
She also highlighted the relevant issues to make it safe for pregnant females suffering from kidney diseases.

She, however, added that the conception is still rare in dialysis patients and not much has been done to increase the fertility rate in dialysis patients.