Lack of guidance irks young organ donors at Government Rajaji Hospital

MADURAI: C S Arun Kumar, a city-based private bank supervisor turned 23 on Thursday. As a goodwill gesture he wanted to do something for society on his birthday and decided to donate his organs after his death to Government Rajaji Hospital, which many poor people depend on for treatments.
An online advertisement on the eve of his birthday motivated him to donate the organs. But he regretted his decision for having approached the GRH as he was made to run here and there for three hours under the scorching sun.Two of his friends who had accompanied him with the same intention after seeking permission from their office were so exhausted that they went back without pledging their organs.
"When I approached the hospital there was a help desk to guide me. One hospital employee sent me to the blood bank, where doctors asked me to approach the Madurai Medical College situated a few hundred metres away from the hospital. College authorities sent me to the anatomy department where they informed that only the body after death can be donated there and not the organs. So, I was again sent to GRH," he said. Even though his friends G L Vigneshwaran and S Aravind tired of this process left, Kumar continued with determination. When Kumar met the resident medical officer after dilly-dallying with the office attendant, he was asked to approach the medical college, he said.
"I was clueless. By then, I was both physically and mentally tired. I too came on permission. I thought the procedures involved would be completed in 30 minutes or one hour. But three hours passed and I was already late for work. Having no other option I tried to meet the hospital dean. But the office attendant did not allow me," he said.
At this juncture C Anandaraj, a health activist, helped him to meet the dean. "The dean was very humble. He felt sorry about the lack of information and the way I was handled by the doctors and hospital workers. He gave his personnel mobile number and promised me to arrange everything when I approach the hospital again on Friday," said Kumar.
"There should be helpdesks to help the patients. The hospital is an enormous one with more than 30 departments. People find themselves all at sea as they cannot find the way to various departments or even find their way out easily," said Anandaraj.
When contacted, Kasi Pandian, RMO, said that anyone can donate their eyes and other organs after their death. "To donate organs one should be certified as brain dead. So far we have not come across anyone who has volunteered to donate his/her organs while living. We need to discuss this," he said.