JJ becomes first state-run hosp to perform cadaver operation

Mumbai: In a first for the four state-run hospitals in the city, the J.J hospital has conducted a cadaver donation operation on a brain dead woman.

Hailing from Jalgaon, Sangita Mahajan (38) had met with an accident on July 17.

After getting the initial treatment at Jalgaon, she was rushed to the J.J. Hospital on July 20 but was declared brain dead on July 23.

When the doctors explained her condition to her husband, he agreed to donate her vital organs like heart, liver, kidney and cornea without any hesitation.

While talking to The Asian Age, Dr. T. P. Lahane said, “I am proud that my hospital is the first government hospital to carry out a cadaver donation in the city. But there is a long way to go, as we still need to spread awareness about the issue. We encounter many instances where the relatives are reluctant to donate the organs and sometimes it becomes very hard to convince them.”

However, in Mahajan’s case, her heart and kidney could not be used, as they were not in a good condition. On the other hand, her liver was sent to Jupiter Hospital and cornea was kept in J. J. Hospital.

Incidentally, India has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the world.

While countries like Spain and Croatia have organ donation rates of 30 per million, India’s rate is currently pegged at an insignificant 0.36 per million.