A Times of India report has stated that Telangana is at the number one spot for cadaver donation in the country. 160 cadaver donations were made by brain-dead patients from the state. Close on Telangana’s heels is Tamil Nadu at the second spot, Maharashtra at the third and Karnataka at the fourth spot. According to the data collected by TOI, Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka also registered a yearly growth in the number of donations in 2018. But Tamil Nadu and Kerala showed a slowdown.

TOI quoted Dr G Swarnalatha from Karnataka’s nodal agency for organ donation Jeevasarthakathe, which revealed that cadaver donations in the country are mostly restricted to Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Karnataka. Private hospitals, where over 90 percent of brain-death declarations come from, perform better at cadaver donation that government-run ones, which only contribute about 10 percent. 82-year-old From Mumbai Becomes Oldest Cadaver Donor.

What is Cadaver Donation?

Cadaver donation or body donation refers to donating the entire body, as opposed to specific organs, after the death of an individual. It’s considered better than organ donation since, through a single cadaver, needs of multiple organ recipients can be met. Apart from the eight vital organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, tissues such as skin, cornea, heart valves, bone and blood vessels can also be harvested. Although they are less common, limbs and face can also be donated from a dead donor. Some people also donate their bodies to research at medical colleges. Indian Organ Donation Day: 8 Things You Should Know About Donating Your Organs.

The Anatomy Act of 1949 governs cadaver donations in the country: “An Act to provide for the supply of unclaimed bodies of deceased persons (or donated bodies or any part thereof of deceased persons) to hospitals and medical and teaching institutions for the purpose of anatomical examination and dissection and other similar purposes.”

Anyone who wishes to donate their body for science after their death, can approach hospitals that are authorised by the government to accept cadaver donations. The Mohan Foundation has a list of hospitals that accept voluntary body donations in India. The person will be required to declare their stance by filling a form. After death, the person’s next-of-kin is entrusted with the task of carrying out the cadaver donation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 09, 2019 12:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).