Questions raised as Sasikala’s husband Natarajan undergoes organ transplant

Chennai: Jailed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala’s husband M Natarajan had a successful liver and kidney transplant on Wednesday at a hospital in Chennai, which has come under scanner over alleged irregularities to facilitate the surgery.

According to media reports, a 19-year-old teen accident victim was flown to the city in a brain-dead state to facilitate the organ transplant surgery on jailed AIADMK leader's ailing husband.

However, Gleneagles Global Health City Hospitals, where Natarajan is currently under treatment, has categorically denied any wrong doing. 

"Against medical advice, the family decided to move him to a private hospital for second opinion and specialised care. The family chose to transfer him to Glenegales Global Hospitals in Chennai for further specialised care. The patient was seen by neurological and trauma team and provided further treatment at the centre," it said in a statement.

The hospital further said the organ donor, 19-year-old Karthik who had suffered severe head injuries and fractures in an accident, was declared brain-dead after his family brought him to Chennai.

Dr K Ilankumaran, who heads the Gleneagles Hospital's transplant department, was also quoted as saying that ''Natarajan was on the top of the wait list and all transplant guidelines were strictly followed.''

Natarajan was reported to be stable after the seven-and-a-half hour kidney and liver transplant surgery.

The statement from the hospital also stated said that Karthik's family had agreed to donate his vital organs. One of his kidneys was given to Government Hospital, while Global Hospitals was allowed to retain the rest of the organs for its own patients. 

Sasikala's nephew and sidelined party member TTV Dhinakaran today confirmed that Natarajan's surgery was successful.

“I have received information that the liver and kidney transplant surgery has been performed on my uncle,” Dhinakaran told reporters in Chennai before leaving for the hospital where the 74-year-old Natarajan is admitted.

Sasikala had sought a 15-day parole from the Karnataka prisons authorities to meet Natarajan but the plea was rejected on technical grounds.