19-year-old brain-dead student saves five lives through organ donation

A 19-year-old student who was deemed brain dead following a recent accident has given a new lease of life to five people. The final-year college student, a Chennai native, was seriously injured early this month on the city’s outskirts’ arterial Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road. According to a press release, the youngster was brought to a private hospital near the accident site and then transferred to Rela Hospital in Chennai for treatment based on their recommendation.

Despite all efforts, the student was unable to be resurrected and was ruled ‘brain inactive/dead.’ Because his essential organs were functioning normally, hospital social workers explained organ donation to his family, who accepted to donate his vital organs, according to the release. Given the exigency, the Tamil Nadu government authorised the legal authorization for organ harvesting from the brain-dead youngster.

A kidney and a heart were transplanted to the patients of Rela Hospital, while another kidney, two lungs, and a liver were transplanted into other patients. “Every life is important and everyone deserves to live,” said R Kanthimathi, member secretary of the Transplant Authority Government of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN). “I am proud to say that Tamil Nadu has led the country in organ transplantation. I am extremely grateful to the donor’s family for coming forward for this noble cause and making a difference in so many people’s lives” states R Kanthimathi.

Raja Jothi, the teen’s sister, stated, “I’m sure this is precisely what he (her brother) would have preferred. He was a selfless individual who never shied away from stepping forward to assist those in need.” Gauthaman, Medical Director of Rela Hospital, stated, “Organ donation by a brain-dead person can give a second life to many patients who are fighting for their survival every day.” “We sincerely thank the student’s family members, who generously agreed to donate his organs,” he said.