Only state doctors can certify brain death: K K Shylaja

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Putting to rest doubts, anxieties and speculations about organ donation malpractices, health minister K.K. Shylaja on Saturday ordered that brain death certification will be done only by government doctors. This is a first in the country and the state government has constituted a committee of doctors. The brain death confirmation is a process involving a multi-disciplinary team, but a government doctor should be present on the scene to certify brain death.

Deputy district medical officers will be nodal officers in districts and 10 to 15 super specialists have been empanelled to confirm brain death. The entire process is aimed at making organ donation more transparent and in keeping with international criteria. Training would be imparted at the zonal level in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.

MCH neurology chief Dr Thomas Iype is the course director, KNOS nodal officer, Dr Noble Gracias, Dr Anil Sathydas and Dr Esawar will be trainers. This was the outcome of a workshop organised by Kerala Network for Organ Sharing (KNOS- Mruthas-anmjeevani) at the Medical College Hospital here. Dr Sreedharan Nagayan of Chennai-based Kaveri Hospital led the workshop.