Saudi Gazette report DAMMAM — A brain-dead Saudi man's organs have saved the lives of three Saudis and an Emirati patient. The man's family donated both of his kidneys, heart and liver to the needy patients, Al-Yaum newspaper reported Tuesday. King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh performed a kidney transplant for a 51-year-old patient while another patient at Prince Sultan Medical City received the man's heart.
The man's other kidney was flown into the United Arab Emirates to save the life of a 33-year-old patient. The transfer marked the first case of an organ being flown into the country from the Kingdom. Dr. Faisal Shaheen, Director General of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT), said there are agreements between Gulf countries to exchange organs for the purpose of saving lives. “The center received 110 approvals for organ donations last year and there are plans to open new centers in other parts of the Kingdom in the coming years. One person can save up to nine lives if we can harvest his kidneys, heart, lungs, liver and pancreas,” he said. The Kingdom has made remarkable achievements in organ transplantation lately and has signed several agreements with different European countries to exchange organs. SCOT has conducted a number of campaigns encouraging Saudis to donate their organs after death.
