The family of a young man in eastern Hualien County who died Wednesday from a fall has donated his organs, which will benefit 50 people, doctors said yesterday.
The young man, surnamed Chen (陳), was declared brain dead by doctors at the Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Center in Hualien after receiving emergency treatment Wednesday.
Chen was confirmed brain dead Thursday after doctors double-checked his condition and confirmed their earlier diagnosis.
His family then agreed to allow all of Chen's organs to be donated, whereupon the hospital's surgeons began harvesting the organs -- all of which were in good condition because of Chen's youth.
Doctors said Chen's kidneys, corneas and skin would be placed in storage in readiness for transplants to be conducted later at the Tzu Chi Medical Center.
His bones were deposited in the Tzu Chi Bone Bank, while his heart and liver were transferred to National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei for transplants there.
The doctors said that almost all of Chen's organs had already been allocated to recipients, but added that further comparisons will need to be made in order to find suitable recipients for his lungs to ensure they would not be rejected.
It is estimated that Chen's donation will benefit 50 people awaiting transplants.
Despite sadness over the death of his son, Chen's father said he took comfort from the fact that his son's organs were going to be used to save so many other people.
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