THE TIMES OF INDIA (November 20, 2016)

Newly released Marathi film 'Ventilator' has drawn criticism from doctors for “insensitivity“ towards organ donation and the concept of brain death.

Dr Sujata Patwardhan, head of the urology department of civic-run KEM Hospital in Parel, said, “The film has been widely appreciated, but it has wrongly portrayed brain death, organ donation and the doctor's role in such situations.'' Dr Patwardhan was until recently the head of the Zonal Transplants Coordination Centre, which coordinates sharing of donated organs between hospitals.

'Ventilator', which released on November 4, revolves around a joint family whose oldest member slips into coma a few days before Ganesh Chaturthi. Doctors are upset with a scene in which the son, who doesn't have an easy equation with his father, speaks to his now-on-ventilator-support father and “almost seems to be threatening him with organ donation''.

Dr Patwardhan said, “To donate is noble and not some punishment meted to brain dead patients.'' The film's director Rajesh Mapuskar didn't respond to calls or SMSes. Doctors who tried to contact him said he is out of the country .

Dr Sagar Mundada, a psychiatrist who saw the film, said while social workers broach the topic of organ donation with sensitivity to the affected families, the film had an office staff talking about it. “The main objection to the film is that it has linked negativity to the concept of organ donation,'' said Dr Mundada.