The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in Quintana Roo achieved a milestone by completing, for the first time in its history, a multi‐organ procurement from a foreigner in the state. This groundbreaking operation yielded two kidneys, two corneas, skin, and bone tissue that immediately benefited Mexican patients across different regions.
María Cristina Ramos Hernández, director of the Regional General Hospital (HGR) No. 17 in Cancún, emphasized the significance of this achievement. “We opened a new chapter for organ donation in Quintana Roo,” she said. “Thanks to the generosity of a family and the expertise of our medical team, multiple lives will improve or be saved.” Ramos Hernández confirmed that the donor was a 44-year-old American citizen vacationing in Cancún when he suffered neurological deficits of vascular origin.
After the American visitor experienced sudden neurological decline, his family rushed him to a private hospital in Cancún. Despite prompt medical interventions, physicians saw no improvement in his condition. When the patient’s wife learned that he had once expressed a wish to donate his organs in the event of a catastrophic injury, she approached physicians about carrying out his final request. Once she provided formal consent, hospital staff activated Mexico’s “Life Code” protocol, which coordinates organ donation logistics under the IMSS network.
Over the following hours, specialists from IMSS Hospital Cancún mobilized to procure four vital tissues. First, they retrieved two corneas and sent them to the Corneal Tissue Bank at the UMAE “Dr. Gaudencio González Garza” General Hospital of the La Raza National Medical Center (CMN) in Mexico City. Corneal transplants can restore vision for patients suffering from conditions such as corneal scarring or keratoconus, and Mexico’s tissue bank system ensures these delicate tissues reach recipients in optimal condition.
Next, the IMSS team procured two kidneys to address urgent transplant needs elsewhere in Mexico. In addition, they harvested skin and bone tissue, which were sent to the State of Mexico Tissue Bank. Skin grafts are vital for burn victims or patients with severe wounds, while bone grafts support orthopedic surgeries and reconstructive procedures. By allocating these tissues efficiently, the IMSS network demonstrates its commitment to sharing resources nationwide.
This multi‐organ procurement represents only the second such procedure of the year in Quintana Roo. Earlier this year, local authorities carried out another multi‐organ retrieval, but this latest case stands out because it involves a foreign donor. The first procedure involved Mexican donors; this time, the IMSS successfully navigated the legal, logistical, and medical complexities that arise when a nonresident becomes an organ donor. Joaquín Mora, a transplant coordinator at HGR No. 17, explained the process: “Coordinating with federal authorities, the American consulate, and multiple IMSS branches took intensive planning. We worked around the clock to ensure every step met national and international regulations.”
The allocation of one of the procured kidneys was prioritized for a 17-year-old patient in Jalisco who had been on the transplant waiting list for months due to acute kidney failure. Without intervention, doctors warned that the teenager faced life-threatening complications. IMSS officials expedited the organ’s transport via a dedicated ambulance convoy, accompanied by trained nursing staff. Upon arrival in Jalisco, surgeons performed a successful transplant, and the young patient is now recovering with stabilized kidney function.
In Cancún, the IMSS Hospital team also processed the corneal tissue, which was transported under refrigeration directly to Mexico City within six hours of retrieval. Corneal transplants in Mexico often have wait times exceeding a year; by sending the corneas promptly to La Raza’s tissue bank, specialists ensure two visually impaired patients can receive surgery within weeks. Health experts expect both recipients to regain significant vision once full healing occurs.
Skin and bone tissue—rarely available on short notice—will serve multiple patients across central Mexico. The State of Mexico Tissue Bank director, Dr. Laura Gómez Martínez, noted that local demand for graft material has steadily increased due to road accidents and orthopedic surgeries. “Receiving fresh skin and bone from Quintana Roo will shorten waiting times for several patients. Some require immediate reconstructive surgery, and we are grateful for this generous donation,” she said.
Because the donor was a foreign tourist, several legal and logistical challenges arose. Under Mexican law, foreigners on temporary tourist visas do not automatically qualify for organ donation unless they express consent in writing. The patient’s wife presented signed documents from the United States authorizing organ donation. Mexican health authorities verified these documents, cross-referenced them with international registries, and coordinated with U.S. consular staff to ensure compliance.
IMSS medical director Dr. Ricardo Navarro López praised the teamwork involved: “Our staff had to liaise with the American consulate, private hospital clinicians, the Jalisco transplant center, and multiple tissue banks. Every minute mattered. We are proud of our collective effort.” Navarro López added that the case underscores the importance of Spain’s “Life Code,” a nationwide system that functions as a “presumed consent” model only if a family does not object. But in this case, the patient’s own advance directive guided the process.
The success of this first‐ever foreign multi‐organ donation in Quintana Roo could encourage other international visitors to consider organ donation while traveling in Mexico. With tourism continuing to grow—Cancún welcomed over 10 million visitors in the last year—health officials see an opportunity to expand donor registries and raise awareness. María Cristina Ramos Hernández emphasized the public health angle: “Every donor can save up to eight lives or improve dozens more through tissue donations. Organ donation should be a global conversation.”
In Jalisco, the family of the 17-year-old transplant recipient expressed relief and gratitude. “We almost lost our son,” said his mother, Ana Reyes. “Thanks to this American man and the IMSS team, he has a second chance.” Meanwhile, the cornea recipients in Mexico City have scheduled surgeries next month, and Dr. Gómez Martínez expects full recovery within three to six months.
As of this week, IMSS officials in Quintana Roo have completed five successful single‐organ donations this year, but the focus remains on expanding multi‐organ procedures. Training programs for surgeons, nurses, and coordinators are underway to standardize protocols. IMSS plans to hold a public seminar in Cancún next month to educate citizens about organ donation procedures, legal requirements, and the impact on communities.
“This achievement highlights the power of collaboration—across borders and medical specialties,” concluded Ramos Hernández. “We honor the donor’s final wish and strengthen Mexico’s transplant network. Lives have changed today because one family said ‘yes.’”
