“Kin donate accident victim’s skin, eyes” – A Report on Our Skin Bank from The Times of India
As reported in Times Of India dated 05/08/2009 :
Mumbai: In a noble gesture, the family of a 31-year-old road accident victim, who succumbed to his injuries on Monday, donated his skin and eyes.
The accident had taken place on July 10 at Goregaon (E) on the Western Express Highway, when a vehicle hit the car in which the deceased, Mandar Korgaonkar, was travelling. After battling for his life in a hospital for 22 days, Mandar breathed his last on Monday.
Mandar’s mother, Dr Leena Korgaonkar, said, “Nothing can compensate our loss. We felt the best way to immortalise Mandar would be by donating his organs.’’ Leena said the family wanted to donate Mandar’s kidneys too, but the doctors told them that it was not possible.
Dr Shilpa Karnik from the National Burns Centre at Airoli said that skin obtained from such donations is used as a protective patch on burns patients. “The patch helps to arrest infection and speed up the healing process,’’ said Karnik. “Ideally, skin should be donated within six to 12 hours of a person’s death. It is also possible for a living person to donate skin,” Karnik added.
People interested in skin donation can contact the burns helpline on 27643333.
