PANJIM: In a noble gesture, the family of a 19-year-old brain dead patient at Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital, Bambolim on Sunday donated his organs to four needy patients.
State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) Goa allocated two donated kidneys as per the waiting list maintained for deceased donor kidney transplant in the GMC, while, the heart was allocated to a 51-year-old woman at HN Reliance Hospital, Mumbai and liver to a 47-year-old man at CIMS hospital, Ahmedabad by ROTTO-SOTTO West Mumbai.
A green corridor was created with the help of the Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Bossuet Silva to transport heart and liver from GMC, Bambolim to the Dabolim international airport. Dr Preeti Varghese, Joint Director of SOTTO Goa coordinated the entire operation of harvesting and transportation of the organs.
According to Prof Dr Shivanand Bandekar, Dean and Nodal Officer, SOTTO, Goa Medical College, “A Brain Stem Dead donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and help 75 others through tissue donation. Currently there are 42 active patients on the waiting list for the Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant of SOTTO Goa waiting for an organ transplant and whose only hope is an organ donor.”
Dr Bandekar has appealed to all the people to come forward and support the cause of organ donation by pledging as an organ donor and say ‘Yes to organ donation’.
A 19-year-old boy from Uttar Pradesh was admitted to the GMC with severe head injury after falling from a height, while working as a painter at Calangute. Even after receiving the best medical care his condition deteriorated and was declared brain dead. When approached by SOTTO nodal officer, the family of the donor showed great courage and took a brave decision of organ donation. This one ‘Yes’ has transformed as a gift of life to four people awaiting a transplant, said Dr Bandekar.
The experts from Brain Stem Death Certification Panel Dr Sanat Bhatkar, Consultant Interventional Neurologist, GMC and Dr Kedareshwar P S Narvencar, Associate Professor, General Medicine, GMC performed Brain Stem Death Certification.
As per the wishes of the deceased’s family, the body was later flown to his native Banaras for last rites.