Supreme Court Seeks AIIMS Expert Opinion on Brain Death Tests

The Supreme Court has decided to seek expert medical opinions to clarify protocols for declaring brain death. The court will consult AIIMS doctors on the necessity and viability of tests such as electroencephalogram (EEG) and angiogram. This decision stems from a case filed by activist S Ganapathy, who alleges that patients are sometimes falsely declared brain dead to facilitate organ donation.

Brain death, or brain stem death, is an irreversible cessation of all brain activity, including vital functions controlled by the brain stem. Patients in this state can only be kept alive with life support. While such patients are candidates for organ donation, the current certification process, particularly the apnea test, is questioned for its subjectivity and lack of consistent videography.

India faces challenges in deceased organ donation, with a rate of 0.77 per million population, significantly lower than many other countries. Despite a high number of potential donors annually, actual donations are limited. The current guidelines require a four-member board to certify brain death, but do not mandate specific advanced tests like EEG or angiogram, which can provide more conclusive evidence.

Expert opinions suggest that while bedside tests are used, advanced tests like EEG and angiogram offer definitive proof of no brain activity or blood flow. However, their limited availability in smaller hospitals poses a challenge to increasing organ donation rates. Additionally, a lack of consistent training among physicians regarding brain death certification further complicates the process.