The Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) conducted a multi-organ harvesting from a brain dead donor on September 30.

According to a Jipmer statement on October 3, the organs and tissues harvested included kidneys, liver, heart, lungs and corneas. On 28th September 2018, a 22-year old, fourth-year MBBS student at government medical college, Thirvarur, met with an accident at Karaikal, while traveling with his friend on the two-wheeler.

He sustained severe head injury and after he was provided first aid in Karaikal government hospital, he was referred to JIPMER for further treatment. After being admitted in a grave condition, he did not show any improvement and was determined to be brain dead by the concerned experts. His condition was also conveyed to his family.

Despite the unfortunate situation, his family members came forward to donate organs as they felt that it would help others with organ failure to lead a better life. Consent for organ donation was given by his parents and uncles. As it was a medico-legal case, the concerned police station was intimated and a formal request for the inquest was made to allow organ harvesting.

Mr Muthusamy, sub-inspector of police, TR Pattinam traffic police station, came to JIPMER, conducted the inquest and completed other medico-legal formalities, thus facilitating the organ donation process. Heart, lungs, liver, both the kidneys and corneas were harvested. Both kidneys, the liver and corneas were transplanted to the needy patients on the 30th of September, itself. The heart and lungs were sent to Chennai for transplantation in two patients in coordination with the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN), Chennai.

Dr Vivekanandan, Director of Jipmer who congratulated the family members for their noble gesture, said that the hospital's administration had been focusing on setting up a multi-organ transplantation program in JIPMER hospital. So far, 173 kidney transplant operations had been performed. Liver transplantation was started in the year 2017 and so far, 5 liver transplantation were performed. Cornea transplantation is being performed regularly at JIPMER.