Woman Donates Liver to Save Husband, Both Die After Surgery

In a tragic incident in Maharashtra, India, a woman donated a portion of her liver to save her husband, but both succumbed following the liver transplant surgery. The Maharashtra Health Department has issued a notice to Sahyadri Hospital, a private facility in Pune, in response to the incident. On Sunday, Nag Nath Yempalle, Deputy Director of the state’s health services, stated that the hospital has been directed to submit all details related to the liver transplant procedure by Monday. “We have issued a notice to the hospital and requested information about the recipient and donor, their video recordings, and detailed treatment procedures. The hospital has been asked to submit all information by 10 a.m. on Monday,” Yempalle said. The patient, Bapu Komkar, underwent the transplant surgery on August 15, with his wife, Kamini, donating a portion of her liver. Two days after the surgery, on August 17, Bapu’s condition deteriorated, and he passed away. On August 21, Kamini developed a severe infection, leading to her death while under treatment. The couple’s family has alleged medical negligence and demanded an investigation into the deaths. The hospital authorities have claimed that the surgery was conducted following standard medical protocols. In a statement, Sahyadri Hospital confirmed receiving the notice from the Maharashtra Health Department and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. “We are committed to providing all necessary information and assistance for a thorough review of the matter,” the statement read. The hospital noted that Bapu Komkar was a high-risk patient with multiple medical complications. “We express our deepest condolences to the Komkar family for their immense loss. Living donor liver transplantation is one of the most complex surgical procedures, and in this case, the patient had multiple complications and was at high risk,” the statement added. The hospital further stated that the family and donor were fully informed about the high risks associated with the surgery. Despite adhering to standard treatment protocols, the patient suffered cardiogenic shock post-transplant, and despite all efforts, he could not be saved. Kamini initially showed signs of recovery but later developed a severe infection leading to septic shock, systemic inflammation, and multi-organ failure. Despite advanced medical interventions, the infection could not be controlled.