The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Organs of `brain dead' youth harvested

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 17, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Organs of `brain dead' youth harvested

By Divya Ramamurthi

CHENNAI, MAY 16. Twentytwo-year-old Lokesh's organs were harvested after he was declared `brain dead' by doctors at the Government General Hospital.

His kidneys, cornea and heart were donated to patients at the Government General Hospital, Government Ophthalmic Hospital and the International Centre for Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Diseases. This is the second organ harvesting performed by the Government General Hospital in the last two months.

Lokesh's kidneys have been received by 27-year-old Vishnu Vardhan from Pulianthope and 30-year-old Arul Mani from Nerkundram. Mr. Vardhan, who was under dialysis, had been waiting for a kidney for the past month while Mr. Mani, a transplant patient, has been waiting for the past two months, said an official of the hospital.

His heart was transplanted to a 19-year-old suffering from severe heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. He was operated on at the International Centre for Cardiothoracic and Vascular Diseases, a unit of Frontier Lifeline, by a team of cardiac specialists led by K.M. Cherian.

Lokesh was brought to the Government Hospital on Tuesday, after first having been admitted to a private hospital. He had sustained severe head injuries and was unconscious. After he was declared brain dead, his mother and brother were counselled on organ harvesting.

"When they realised how many other people they could help, they quickly agreed to the idea. We are really appreciative of their efforts," said the official.

The Government General Hospital has formed a six-member committee to decide issues of organ harvesting. The hospital authorities also plan to develop a registry for all organs. "At present, each government hospital maintains its own registry. We want to develop a common database so that exchange of information on organ donations can become speedier," the official said.

The official said that the Government General Hospital was also planning to ask the Government to procure more sophisticated equipment and drugs.

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