2003-02-25 13:04:43 -- The three-hour transplant, which doctors say is the first of its kind, was performed on a seven-month-old child at the Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College Hospital in Calcutta.

The penis was taken from a one-year-old child from Shantipur in Bengal's Nadia district who had two but had no rectum.

According to Dr Ashok Ray, the surgeons first constructed the rectum and then removed the extra male member in another operation.

The doctors realised they could make medical history when another child admitted to the hospital was discovered without a penis.

It is reported the medical team scoured every available medical journal and scanned every relevant web page to look for precedents but found none.

B.K. Manocha, a Calcutta based pediatrician, said: "I have never come across such a case."

Tapati Dhara, the mother of the child that received the organ, told The Telegraph of Calcutta: "It is amazing the way things unfolded in the last few days. Perhaps, it was God's will."

A member of the medical team said: "To ensure good health and prevent rejection of any form, we have kept the child with the transplanted penis on medication and are maintaining a close vigil."

Both children are recovering.


Story filed: 08:49 Friday 21st February 2003

[link]