Youth saves five lives by donating organs

New Delhi, Jan 5 (IANS) A 24-year-old youth has saved the lives of five people by donating his organs after his death, an official said.

Ram Bhuj was admitted to the neuro-surgery department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Dec 30 after he was grievously injured in a road accident. He didn't respond to treatment, and was declared brain dead Jan 2.

While the option of organ donation was offered to his family members, it was the brother of a patient who convinced Bhuj's parents to donate the organs that could save the lives of the needy.

According to the health ministry, an estimated 500,000 people die each year because of non-availability of organs.

"With the consent of the family members, doctors at AIIMS took out the liver, heart, kidneys and corneas from the body," a hospital official told IANS.

The heart was immediately used to save the life of a 13-year-old patient who was awaiting a heart transplant but was not finding any donor. The surgery was conducted by cardiac surgeon Balram Airan.

The kidneys saved the lives of two adult patients who had suffered renal failures.

As there was no demand for the liver by any patient at AIIMS, it was given to the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in the city.

"The liver was split into two and each transplanted into a paediatric patient and an adult. Though the child couldn't survive even after the transplant, the adult is healthy and fit now," the official said.

There was no immediate demand for the corneas, and they were preserved at the ophthalmology centre of the hospital.