Family’s noble choice: 53-year-old woman’s organs give fresh lease of life to four patients

The woman had suffered severe head injuries in a train accident and was admitted to Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, Pune in a critical state. She was placed under the care of the ICU and neurosurgical teams and despite advanced treatment, her condition worsened and included brain swelling, hemorrhage and she slipped into a deep coma. After specialist evaluation and completion of all mandatory protocols, she was recently declared brainstem dead.

“It was a difficult time for the family, but they chose to donate her organs so that others could live. This single decision gave four patients a second chance at life,” Dr Amit Choudhary, Consultant, Critical Care Medicine at Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, said.

Their decision paved the way for four organ transplants that was carried out through a coordinated effort after all preparations and government clearances. This involved multiple hospitals and transplant teams. Her lungs were retrieved by DY Patil Hospital, liver by Jupiter Hospital, one kidney by Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital itself and the second kidney by Sahyadri Hospital, Deccan, Pune.

In India, however, such decisions remain rare, and the country’s organ donation rate is less than 1 per million populations, leaving over 3 lakh patients on waiting lists each year. “Timely choices like this family’s are what bridge the gap between life and loss,” doctors at the hospital said.