Dakshina Kannada Man, 65, Becomes Eldest Organ Donor at Father Muller Hospital
Mangaluru: Father Muller Medical College Hospital (FMMCH) in Mangaluru successfully conducted a multi-organ donation on March 1, 2026, following the declaration of brain death of Mr. Dayakar Kotian, a 65-year-old resident of Kolar. Mr. Kotian’s donation marks him as the eldest organ donor in the Dakshina Kannada region. A formal gratitude ceremony was held on March 3, 2026, by the Director of Father Muller Charitable Institutions (FMCI), Rev. Fr. Faustine Lucas Lobo, to honor the family of the deceased for their altruistic act.
Mr. Dayakar Kotian (65 years)
Mr. Kotian, originally from Bajpe, Mangaluru, sustained critical injuries in a road traffic accident on February 22, 2026, in Malur, Kolar. He was subsequently transferred to FMMCH for specialized neurosurgical and critical care management under the guidance of Dr. C.K. Ballal, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon, and the hospital’s Critical Care and Intensive Care teams.
Despite the comprehensive medical interventions, Mr. Kotian was declared brain dead following rigorous clinical and apnea tests, certified by the hospital’s Brain Death Committee.
The Transplant Coordination team, along with the medical staff, approached Mr. Kotian’s family to counsel them regarding the possibility of organ donation. Displaying exceptional generosity and compassion during their time of grief, Mr. Kotian’s wife, Mrs. Surekha, his brother, Mr. Keshav Poojary, and other family members offered their full consent for the procedure.
SOTTO (State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization), Jeevasarthakathe, was immediately notified, and the allocation of organs was carried out in accordance with state guidelines. After the completion of all medico-legal requirements under the jurisdiction of the East Traffic Police Station, Kadri, the organ retrieval process commenced at 2:00 PM on March 1, 2026.
The organs were allocated as follows: the left kidney was designated for Kasturba Hospital, Manipal; the right kidney was allocated to NU Hospital, Shivamogga; skin was harvested at FMMCH, and corneas were retrieved at FMMCH.
The Department of Forensic Medicine at FMMCH conducted the post-mortem examination in compliance with all legal stipulations. Upon completion of all procedures, the mortal remains were respectfully handed over to the family at 6:00 PM.
During a private meeting, Rev. Fr. Faustine Lucas Lobo, Director of FMCI, expressed his deep appreciation to Mrs. Surekha and her family for their remarkable act of donation, emphasizing that it had provided renewed hope and a chance at life for multiple recipients. The hospital administration conveyed profound gratitude to the donor’s family for their extraordinary generosity during a period of immense personal sorrow.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Keshav Poojary, brother of the deceased, expressed his hope that his brother’s legacy would live on through the recipients of his organs. He lauded his sister-in-law’s strength in consenting to the donation during such a difficult time and acknowledged the kindness and compassion shown by the staff of Father Muller Hospital in providing care to his brother and support to the extended family.
Fr. George Jeevan Sequeira, Administrator of FMMC, and Dr. Uday Kumar, Medical Superintendent of FMMCH, were present at the subsequent gratitude ceremony.
Father Muller Medical College Hospital reaffirms its dedication to raising awareness about organ donation and encourages the public to consider pledging their organs to help save lives.