New Delhi
The family of a Muslim woman doctor from Kerala who died in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, gave a lease of life to two humans, by doinating her organs and also breaking the perception that Muslims do not donate organs.
Sajna S.A., a 42-year-old Ayurvedic doctor, had been working in Bhopal for the past six months. According to media reports, she was admitted to a private hospital in Bhopal with a severe brain haemorrhage (subarachnoid haemorrhage) on May 15. Despite the best efforts of doctors, her deteriorated, and ultimately, she was declared brain-stem dead.
This was a difficult moment for her family. However, amid the grief of losing a dear one, her family offered to donate her organs. This came after a session of counselling by the organ transplant experts and doctors.
It may be mentioned that Brainstem death is the permanent, irreversible loss of all brainstem functions, meaning the brain can no longer control core functions like consciousness, awareness, and breathing. Because the brainstem cannot recover or be repaired, a diagnosis of brainstem death is considered legal and clinical death, even if a machine temporarily keeps the heart beating. Organs of such persons are best for harvesting.
Sajna's liver and one kidney were transplanted on patients in the same hospital, while the second kidney was donated to a patient at another private hospital.
The harvesting of organs was performed strictly under the guidelines of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO).
Dr. S.K. Trivedi, director of Bansal Hospital, shared a moving account of the incident. He explained that when the family was asked if they had any preference regarding the religion or identity of the recipient, Sajna's husband, an IT manager in Bengaluru, simply replied, "Give it to whoever needs it."
All the harvested organs have given a new lease of life to two Hindus.
The scene was deeply moving as Sajna S.A.'s body left Bansal Hospital in Bhopal with police paying a guard to honour to it. This gesture follows the government’s recent orders to publically acknowledge the noble act of organ donation. Hospital staff, doctors, relatives of patients, and local administration officials was present to pay their last respects. The body was flown to Thiruvananthapuram for burial in her native place.
Sanjana's family was honoured by the hospital and the district administrations, SAM College, and representatives from the United Malayalee Association (UMA). Hospital staff presented the family with a memento, saying it was not just an honour but an effort to remember the compassion and humanity of a woman who, even in death, gave life to others.
This donation is significant from the Muslim point of view. Though religious scholars have issued fatwas in favour of organ donation, there are still inhibitions and confusion among Muslims on this.
The Muslim family's act of humanity is being debated online in views and social media posts. Videos shared on Bhopal-based social media platforms and Instagram pages have been viewed millions of times, while thousands have shared emotional reactions.
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Many users wrote that "humanity is the greatest religion," while others hailed the incident as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity and India's shared culture. One user wrote, "Taking life is easy, but giving life is the greatest charity." Another commented, "Whoever saved one person's life saved all of humanity."
