Bhopal Auto Driver Saves Three Lives: 40-Year-Old Woman Gets New Heart; Donor Given Guard of Honour

 In another, those same organs began to beat and function again — giving three new lives a second chance.

The Brother’s Courage and Consent

The donor’s brother, Bharat Patil, recalled that his brother had fallen from his bed during sleep, suffering a severe head injury. “We brought him to AIIMS on October 21. Despite all efforts, the doctors later informed us that he was brain dead. Our family decided that while my brother couldn’t be saved, he could still save others,” said Bharat.

With the family’s consent, doctors began preparations for organ donation — an act that turned grief into hope for three other families.

Three Lives Revived Through One Act

AIIMS Bhopal confirmed this was only the second time a brain-dead patient had saved three lives through organ donation. At 4 a.m., the complex retrieval process began.

The donor’s heart now beats inside a 40-year-old woman, while two other patients received his kidneys — one at AIIMS Bhopal and another at a private hospital. To transport the kidney safely, authorities created a green corridor, ensuring zero traffic delays.

Emotional Farewell with Guard of Honour

Once the transplant procedures concluded, the donor was given a Guard of Honour at AIIMS Bhopal — a gesture of respect and gratitude. “He may be gone, but his heart still beats in someone else,” said his brother. The family has appealed to the government for financial assistance for the donor’s wife and two young daughters.

Heart and Kidney Transplants Conducted Simultaneously

At AIIMS, doctors carried out two major surgeries side by side — a heart transplant for one patient and a kidney transplant for another. The second kidney was delivered to Bansal Hospital under medical supervision.

The Madhya Pradesh government approved ₹5 lakh in financial aid for the patient undergoing the heart transplant, as confirmed by AIIMS administration.

How the Brain Death Was Confirmed

The 37-year-old donor was admitted with severe head trauma. After all reversible causes such as drug effects, shock, and hypothermia were ruled out, a team of four doctors conducted two independent tests six hours apart.

They examined pupillary, corneal, gag, cough, oculocephalic, oculovestibular, and apnea reflexes — all of which were absent. Following standard medical protocol, he was declared brain dead on Saturday evening — a legal confirmation of death under Indian law.

Official Support and Growing Awareness

AIIMS Medical Superintendent Dr. Vikas Gupta stated that after the first heart transplant at AIIMS, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had announced that all organ donors would receive a Guard of Honour and that their families would be financially assisted. The current donation and ceremony followed this policy.

Bhopal Leading in Kidney Transplants

Bhopal is emerging as a leading centre for kidney transplants in Madhya Pradesh. AIIMS has performed 11 such surgeries — three of which were cadaveric (from brain-dead donors). Gandhi Medical College completed 10 live transplants, while Bansal Hospital, a private facility, has conducted over 400.

However, compared to other states, Madhya Pradesh still lags behind on the national scale.

Need for Awareness and Infrastructure

Dr. Kavita Kumar, convener of the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO), emphasized that the state is still in the early stages of organ donation awareness. “We are just learning to walk. The more people talk about it, the faster awareness will grow,” she said.

She also pointed out that government hospitals need more manpower, space, and advanced machinery for organ retrieval and preservation to make cadaveric donation routine practice.