Stalin announces funeral with state honours for brain dead organ donors

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday announced that the funeral of organ donors would be conducted with State honours.

Posting a message to this effect on micro-blogging website 'X', Stalin said "In order to honour the sacrifice of those who donate their organs and save many lives, funerals of those donating their organs before their death will be conducted with state honours."

Stating that the state continues to be a pioneer in the country in giving life to the hundreds of patients through organ donation, the CM said that the achievement has been made possible by the selfless sacrifices of families who come forward to donate the organs of their family members who suffer brain death under tragic circumstances.

When asked what a funeral with State honours would entail, Health Minister M Subramanian told DT Next that a senior district-level official like Collector, DRO or RDO would represent the State at the funeral of the organ donor. “The official would place a wreath as a sign of respect and State honour. During the annual Organ Donation Day, the Public Health Department will recall the sacrifice of the organ donor and felicitate the family,” he said.

Compared to others, Tamil Nadu is among the top when it comes to deceased donor organ donation and transplant – at 156 donors in 2022, it was second only to Telangana (194), while it was first when it came to the number of transplants (553 against Telangana’s 524). However, the high ranking is relative to other states, but far from the requirement.

According to Subramanian, there are 6,179 people on the waitlist for kidney, 449 for liver, 72 for heart, 60 for lung and 24 for heart and lung, 26 for pancreas, and one for hand.

Behind each name on the waitlist is the story of a family in despair, which the State is looking to redress with encouragement like the one that Stalin announced.