New Delhi, June 24: The family of a 43-year-old man who was declared brain dead at AIIMS-Delhi following a head injury donated his organs, helping save multiple lives. The organs donated by Rajesh Prasad were allocated to recipients through the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO). His liver was allocated to AIIMS-Delhi and the kidneys in two hospitals -- AIIMS Delhi and Safdarjang Hospital.

His corneas have been banked at the National Eye Bank at AIIMS. His heart valves were also banked at Cardiac Centre, AIIMS, according to a statement issued by AIIMS. Prasad got injured on June 21 when when he slipped and fell from 10-feet high while executing some construction work at Ballabhgarh, AIIMS said in the statement, adding he was first moved to a nearby government hospital. He was referred to the AIIMS Trauma Centre with a severe head injury, the statement said, adding he was declared brain dead on June 22. Delhi: 9-Year-Old Brain Dead Boy Saves Multiple Lives Through Organ Donation at AIIMS.

"The family was shocked to hear of the patient's brain death and was emotionally unstable. Initially, they could not accept the concept of organ donations. They were not aware of organ harvesting and donation and were also afraid of disfigurement of the body by organ donation," the statement said.

The Organ Retrieval Banking Organization (ORBO) transplant counsellors and coordinators had multiple counselling sessions with the family after which they consented to the noble cause, the hospital said. Delhi: Brain Dead Man Saves Four Lives After Family Donates His Heart, Liver and Both Kidneys.

Dr Aart Vij, Head of ORBO AIIMS, said, "It is very hard for the family to decide for organ donation in such a tragic situation while they are in a mental shock and yet to come to terms with their loss". However, when a family takes this brave decision all the stakeholder work very swiftly to coordinate the entire process.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)