Pune Hospital Cleared in Tragic Liver Transplant Case

According to a report from November 15, 2025, the state health department in Pune has cleared Sahyadri Hospitals of any wrongdoing in a liver transplant case that resulted in the deaths of a man and his wife last August. State health secretary Dr. Nipun Vinayak confirmed that an expert committee, led by liver transplant surgeon Dr. Mohammed Rela and deputy director of health services Dr. Bhagwan Pawar, found no evidence of medical lapses in the procedure.

The tragic incident occurred when the recipient, the husband, passed away on August 17 due to postoperative cardiogenic shock, while the donor, his wife, died on August 21 from septic shock and multi-organ failure. Following the incident, the deceased patient's family had lodged a medical negligence complaint with the local police.

However, the police investigation is still ongoing, as they have written to JJ Hospital in Mumbai, seeking further input from their expert committee. The Pune police had previously approached Sassoon General Hospital, but the hospital's medical superintendent stated that they lacked the specialized expertise required for such an inquiry.

The expert committee's findings were reviewed by the organ transplant advisory committee, chaired by the health secretary, who agreed with the recommendations and suggested organizing a seminar with national experts to discuss transplant-related issues.