In a noble gesture, a Coimbatore-based family donated the cardiac pacemaker of its breadwinner to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH), following his death.
The pacemaker used by Bose alias Ponnusamy, a resident of Vaiyampalayam, was donated to the hospital by his son Rajesh Kannan on Tuesday.
Ponnusamy had succumbed to renal problems at a private hospital in Coimbatore on September 3.
Help for the needy
“My father had cardiac problems and the pacemaker was implanted from Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bengaluru, in 2015. Following his death, Dr. Narayana Moorthy advised us to remove the pacemaker and donate it to a needy patient. The pacemaker was removed at GKNM Hospital, Coimbatore, and all members of the family backed the idea of donating it to the Government Hospital, where needy patients come,” said Mr. Kannan.
Made in the United States, the pacemaker cost ₹1.8 lakh, and has an 18-year life span.
On Tuesday, Mr. Kannan, accompanied by his brother-in-law I. Palanikumar, approached the CMCH authorities and enquired about the possibility of donating the pacemaker.
Touched by their gesture, the hospital authorities asked them to write a letter stating their willingness to donate it, and subsequently accepted it.
“It is a rare gesture, as the family had thought of donating the pacemaker at a time of grief. The pacemaker will be used on a needy patient through the Department of Cardiao-thoracic surgery. This can be used for another 16 years,” said R. Soundravel, resident medical officer of CMCH, after accepting the pacemaker from Mr. Kannan.