Maha govt makes certification of brain death mandatory

In the current situation, availability of organs for transplantation is falling woefully short of the demand, while organ transplantation is considered as the only treatment for end stage disease.

Considering the fact that a large number of brain deaths occur in non-transplant hospitals, an appropriate authority, as per the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, shall take the initiative to register those hospitals that fulfil the conditions as non-transplant organ retrieval centres, said the recent government resolution (GR) issued by the health department.

Whenever the medical condition (clinical and medical criteria prescribed) of a patient reaches a brain death stage, the certification will be done by the authorised medical personnel and immediately thereafter the details of it would be conveyed to zonal transplantation co-ordination committee for distribution of the organs, the GR said.

The order shall come in force in hospitals which are registered under Human Organ Transplant Act, 1994 and non transplant organ retrieval centres in the state with immediate effect, it mentioned.

Donor management and meticulous coordination is crucial in maintaining excellent outcomes in organ transplantation, the GR said.

The appropriate authority shall register all hospitals in the state that have an operation theatre and intensive care unit as non-transplant organ retrieval centres (NTORCs). MORE