INDIA.Pune: Five persons, including two severely ill soldiers, received a new lease of life following the donation of organs by the family of a brain-dead patient at the Indian Army’s Southern Command Hospital in Pune, Maharashtra on Friday.
A 34-year-old brain-dead woman, the wife of a retired soldier, was admitted to the hospital on Thursday night. She was declared brain-dead and her relatives consented to donate her organs.
The Defence Public Relations Officer(PRO) stated, “A young lady was brought to Command Hospital (Southern Command), (CHSC) in the last stages of her life after an unfortunate event. On admission, the vital brain signs of life were not present in her. The family was aware of the concept of organ donation after death. After discussion with the transplant coordinator of the hospital, the family desired that the organs of the lady should be donated to patients who are in dire need of them.”
After the necessary clearances, the transplant team at Command Hospital (Southern Command), was immediately activated and the alerts were sent to the Zonal transplant coordination centre (ZTCC) and Army Organ Retrieval and Transplant Authority (AORTA). Through the night of Thursday, July 14, and early morning hours of Friday, July 15, viable organs such as kidneys were transplanted into 02 serving soldiers of the Indian Army, Eyes were preserved at the eye bank of Command Hospital (SC) located at Armed forces medical college complex and liver was given to the patient at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune.
“A benevolent gesture of organ donation after death and a well-coordinated effort at CH(SC), gave life and eyesight to 5 severely ill patients. It bolsters the belief that “don’t take your organs to heaven, God knows we need them here!” It also spreads awareness about the invaluable role of organ donation to needy patients under such circumstances”, an Indian Army statement said.
The transplant team at the Command hospital included physicians Lt Col Bhaskar Dutt, Lt Col Sudeep Prakash, surgeons Colonel Bharat, and Lt Colonel Abhishek Shukla, and anaesthesiologist Lt Colonel Akhil Goel.
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