Heart valves of photographer who died in accident donated

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: S Sreekanth, the news photographer of Suprabhaatham daily, who succumbed to injuries suffered in an accident recently, saved the life of another person. Sreekanth’s heart valves were transplanted to a patient at Sree Chitra Tirunal hospital on Friday.
Sreekanth died on Thursday, after undergoing treatment at Medical College Hospital for serious injuries suffered in a road accident that happened on July 31.
He had told his family about his wish to donate organs. Though relatives had given consent for donation of more organs, Mrithasanjeevani representatives were unable to fulfil Sreekanth’s wish as it was not a case of brain death. As per Mrithasanjeevani – state government’s organ donation programme – the organs of a person can be donated after he or she is declared brain dead.
As his heart was functioning normally, heart valves could be donated. And Mrithasanjeevani nodal officer Dr Noble Gracious made arrangements to donate the heart valves. The heart valves were transplanted to a patient at Sree Chitra hospital. Pediatric surgeon and cardiovascular thoracic surgery head at Sree Chitra Tirunal hospital Baiju S Dharan and resident doctors Dr Suraj, Dr Rashid and Dr Akash led the surgery.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and health minister K K Shailaja condoled his death.