Brain-dead man's organs give new lease of life to 5

Madurai: The organs of a 47-year-old man from Madurai district, who was declared brain dead following a recent road accident, were donated at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) on Saturday. The organs, including the small intestine and liver, gave a new lease of life to several patients.

M Kochadai Muthaiah of Peraiyur was riding a two-wheeler when he fell from his vehicle near Karaikeni on April 23, and suffered a head injury. At GRH, where he was referred to, Muthaiah was treated by neurosurgery/ICU team, but was declared brain dead on Saturday morning. As his wife, Nirmala, was willing to donate his organs, they were harvested on Saturday evening.

The small intestine was taken via green corridor and airlifted to Chennai for transplantation to a patient at MGM Hospital. The liver was transported and transplanted to a patient at Vadamalayan Hospital in Madurai. One of the kidneys was allotted to a patient at Sundaram Hospital in Trichy, and another kidney and cornea to patients at GRH itself.

The administration of GRH and Madurai Medical College, led by Dean Dr L Arul Sundaresh Kumar, paid homage to the departed soul. Muthaiah was accorded state honours by the district administration.