Accident victim gives lease of life to needy persons

Nirmala Bhat (51), wife of Vasudev Bhat from Karkala, met with a road accident at Tellar Road, Mathr Nivas near Ravalnath Temple, Karkala on June 22 at 7.30 pm and was referred to Kasturba Hospital Manipal ICU at 1 am on June 23, under the Department of Neurosurgery.

At 12.30 pm on June 25, she was declared as brain-dead as per the protocol stipulated by the Transplantation of Human Organ Act 1994 by four senior doctors of the Medical board. There was no chance that she will recover from this condition or regain her consciousness. Her breathing was supported by the ventilator so as to harvest organs for transplantation namely two heart valves, both corneas, both kidneys and liver.

Her husband Vasudev Bhat and family members expressed their willingness to donate the organs of Nirmala Bhat.

As decided by the Transplantation Authority, corneas and one kidney would be provided to patients admitted in Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. The liver harvested by surgeons from BGS Hospital, Bengaluru for the identified patient would be airlifted by helicopter from Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. Two heart valves would be used on patient from Bengaluru, one kidney for a patient in Mangaluru.

Medical Superintendent Dr Avinash Shetty said that the noble gesture of the family of Nirmala Bhat has helped seven needy patients get a fresh lease of life through transplantation.