Karunanidhi hails doctor couple's humanitaian gesture

Chennai, Sept 25 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today commended the humanitarian gesture of a doctor couple, who had donated the organs of their 16-year-old son, after he was declared brain dead following a road accident.

''Its a huge sacrifice on the part of the doctor couple, Dr Ashokan and his wife Dr Pushpanjali to donate six organs, including the heart of their son Hitendra'', Mr Karunanidhi said.

Mr Karunanidhi said he was touched and moved when he read reports that the couple had come forward to donate the organs, after doctors declared as brain dead, their son, who was admitted to Apollo Hospital, after he met with an accident.

As the heart needed to be transplanted within 30 minutes, after removal, a team of doctors at two private hospitals and city police acted in a swift manner and gave a fresh lease of life to a nine year-old girl, the Chief Minister said.

Conveying his hearty congratulations to the doctors and police, Mr Karunanidhi said after identifying the recipient, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mugappair, the doctors sought the help of the police to take the heart in the quickest possible time.

In a swift move, the city police after ordering that other vehicles on the route make way and the traffic lights enroute showing green, took the heart to the recipient hospital in just 11 minutes. Otherwise, it would have taken atleast 45 minutes to reach the destintion. This ensured that a nine-year-old girl was provided the new heart, he said.

A team of doctors, headed by Dr Cherian successfuly conducted the transplant and the heart was now functioning well, according to the doctors, Mr Karunanidhi said.

Hitendra's other organs including eyes, kidneys, lungs and liver were awaiting reciepients, Mr Karunanidhi said adding Dr Ashokan's remarks that his son was not dead, but still living by giving life to six people, was commendable.

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