Brain dead patient saves many lives

His wife Usha Rani and two daughters had volunteered to donate his vital organs, after they were approached for organ donation. His liver, heart, kidneys and cornea were harvested. The next day, the liver was transplanted into a 38-year-old woman from Haryana by Dr Mohamed Rela and his team, while his cornea was retained at the hospital’s eye bank. The remaining organs harvested were sent to other city hospitals. 

According to the studies, 5-8 per cent of all hospital deaths every day is due to brain death. When counselled appropriately, 65 per cent of brain dead victims’ families agree to donate organs. Organ donation became a people’s movement in Tamil Nadu after a doctor couple from Chengalpattu donated organs of their brain dead son Hithendran in 2008. 

Right from when the organ donation programme was started in October 2008, so far around 713 donors have donated 3,966 organs till Dec 2015.