An act of generosity by the family of a brain-dead 43-year-old woman from Bengaluru, who consented to donate her organs, has enabled multiple patients to receive a new lease of life.

The organ retrieval was carried out on Thursday at the Trauma and Emergency Care Centre (TECC) on the State-run Victoria Hospital campus, attached to the Bengaluru Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI). This is the second organ donation recorded at TECC in the last three months.

While the retrieval procedure was undertaken at the trauma centre, the organs — kidneys, liver, corneas and skin — were subsequently allocated for transplantation to eligible recipients as per protocol in BMCRI-affiliated facilities on the hospital’s campus.

TECC special officer Asima Banu said the coordinated efforts of the TECC staff, BMCRI team and the Jeevasaarthakate organ donation facilitation team ensured the smooth conduct of the retrieval process. While the liver will be used for transplant in the Institute of Gastroenterology Sciences and Organ Transplant (IGOT), kidneys have been allotted to the Institute of Nephro-Urology. Corneas have been allotted to Minto Ophthalmic Hospital and skin to the Skin Bank attached to Mahabodhi Burns ward in Victoria hospital, Dr. Banu said.

She said the donor had attempted to end her life and was rushed to a private hospital before she was brought to TECC on May 5. She was declared brain dead the following day after which her husband came forward to donate her organs, she added.

EOM/