A 21-year-old from Bengaluru, who was declared brain-dead by a team of doctors on May 20, has provided a new lease of life to many terminally ill patients.
While returning to Bengaluru from Dharmasthala on May 16, he met with an accident. The car he was travelling in toppled near Kunigal Cross on the Bengaluru-Hassan highway. The man, a BBA student, sustained a serious head injury and was admitted to Sparsh Hospital, Yeshwantpur. His condition deteriorated and, on Sunday, he was declared brain-dead.
The government-run Jeevasarthakathe Transplant Authority of Karnataka counselled his mother and other relatives to consider the option of organ donation. With their consent, the doctors harvested his vital organs, including liver, heart and kidneys.
They transplanted the liver into a critically ill patient. One of his kidneys was sent to Command Hospital and the other one was sent to INU (Victoria Hospital), Bengaluru. The heart was transported to a hospital in Kolkata.
“It’s fascinating how a single brain-dead person can save the lives of up to eight people. However, thousands of patients die each year as viable organs don’t reach them on time,” said Dr. Mathew, one of the surgeons.
