THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Health Department has formulated guidelines for certifying cases of brain death cases and it is meant to allay people’s doubts and apprehensions, Health Minister K K Shylaja has said.
The guidelines formulated as per the Kerala High Court’s directions will help to reaffirm there is not an iota of chance of the victim returning to life.
Conforming to globally laid down norms, they should be adhered to by all government and private hospitals. Its three major components are the precautions to be taken before the confirmation tests, review of brain stem reflexes and apnoea test.
The guidelines make a clear distinction between coma and brain death. It specifies the tests to be conducted for analysing whether the person is indeed comatose. In the case of stroke victims, brain death confirmation steps can be initiated only if the patient is on ventilator support.
Four doctors — one of whom should be a government medic — must certify brain death.