A tragic medical incident that took place in Pune. An elderly couple died within days of a liver transplant surgery, triggering an official inquiry in Pune. The Maharashtra Health Department has served a notice to Sahyadri Hospital. This comes following the deaths of Bapu Komkar and his wife, Kamini Komkar. The wife had donated a portion of her liver to save her husband.

According to reports, both surgeries were conducted on August 15 at the Pune-based private hospital. Bapu Komkar, the liver recipient, passed away two days later on August 17 due to cardiogenic shock, while Kamini, who initially showed signs of recovery, developed an infection on August 21 and succumbed to septic shock and multi-organ failure during treatment.

Family Cries Negligence

Alleging medical negligence, the Komkar family has demanded an in-depth probe into the circumstances that led to the dual tragedy. In response, Deputy Director of Health Services Dr. Nagnath Yempalle confirmed that Sahyadri Hospital has been asked to submit all documents related to the procedure. This includes video recordings, treatment protocols, and counselling details of both the donor and the recipient. The deadline for submission is 10 AM on Monday.

Hospital Responds: “Protocols Were Followed”

In an official statement, Sahyadri Hospital expressed condolences and maintained that all procedures were conducted according to standard medical protocols. The hospital described Bapu Komkar as a high-risk patient with multiple complications and asserted that the family had been fully informed of the risks associated with the complex transplant procedure.

“We are fully cooperating in the investigation. We are committed to providing all necessary information and support to ensure a thorough review of this matter. We deeply sympathise with the Komkar family in this time of immense loss. A living donor liver transplant is one of the most complex procedures, and in this case, the patient was a high-risk person with many complications,” the hospital said.

“The surgeries were carried out following standard medical protocols. Unfortunately, the recipient developed cardiogenic shock after the transplant and could not be revived despite all efforts,” the statement added.

Hospital Defends Its Actions

According to the hospital, the transplant surgery proceeded without deviation from protocol, and both patients were thoroughly counselled beforehand. Bapu reportedly went into cardiogenic shock post-surgery and could not be revived. Kamini, who showed early signs of recovery, later developed a severe infection, leading to her death despite intensive treatment.

Dr Nagnath Yempalle, Deputy Director of Health Services, said on Sunday that Sahyadri Hospital has been asked to provide complete details of the transplant procedure by Monday.

“We have issued a notice to the hospital and sought details of the recipient and the donor, their video recordings, and the line of treatment. The hospital has been asked to furnish all the details by 10 am on Monday,” PTI quoted him as saying.

Health Department Awaits Full Report

The Maharashtra health authorities have reiterated their commitment to uncovering the facts behind this rare and heartbreaking case. Further action will depend on the findings submitted by the hospital. Meanwhile, the case has stirred public debate on the complexities and risks of live organ transplants and the need for transparency in such high-stakes medical procedures.