Chandigarh, 1 December: A 44-year-old Haryana resident declared brain dead at PGIMER after a severe head injury went on to save five lives when his family agreed to donate his organs, hospital officials said on Sunday.
The man had been admitted on November 23 following a fall that caused irreversible brain trauma. Despite sustained treatment, he was declared brain dead on November 27 under Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOA) guidelines. His wife made the decision to donate his organs, saying it reflected who he was. “My husband always believed in helping people,” she said. “Knowing that he has saved lives gives me strength to move forward.”
PGIMER activated its Organ Retrieval and Allocation System immediately. The liver was allocated to the Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (PILBS), enabling the institute to perform its first cadaver liver transplant. Two kidneys were transplanted at PGIMER, while the donor’s corneas restored vision to two people.
Dr. Vivek Lal, director of PGIMER, said the family’s decision carried rare courage. “Their willingness to rise above their grief has saved multiple lives,” he said. “Supporting PILBS in achieving their first cadaver liver transplant is a proud moment for us and a major milestone for Punjab’s healthcare system.”
PILBS director Dr. Virendra Singh also expressed gratitude. “We are deeply thankful to PGIMER for their mentorship, guidance and facilitation in enabling our first cadaver liver transplant,” he said.
