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Brain Stem Death
Context:
The Union Health Ministry has directed to identify and monitor cases of brain stem death (BSD) in intensive care units (ICU).
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- The effort expedites the certification process for BSD and increases the organ’s availability for transplantation.
- The government has identified BSD cases as a significant challenge to India’s low organ donation rate.
About Brain Steam Death (BSD):
Brain stem death, also known as brain death, refers to the permanent, irreversible, and complete loss of brain function, including the cessation of involuntary activities necessary to sustain life.
- Causes: Common causes include hypoxic-ischemic injury from cardiac arrest, shock, respiratory failure, and cardiopulmonary arrest, traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- The essential functions of life stop leading to the inability to regain consciousness and require life support.
- It is characterised by the absence of spontaneous breathing.
- Unlike BSD, in a vegetative state, some parts of the brain function and recovery is possible.
- According to UK law (Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) 1981) declaring brain dead also confirms legal death, even if life support can maintain bodily functions including heartbeat and breathing.
- Careful assessment and management in medical settings are essential to ensure appropriate care for patients with BSD.
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According to the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act 1994, hospitals and healthcare centres must identify all possible brain stem death (BSD) cases admitted to the ICU.
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