Tension over “brain.-dead’ patient

Perusal of above front page news in to-day’s Hindu appears to have happened as a result of total lack of communication or improper information and explanation of the condition of the patient to the relatives by those who were in actual care of the patient. Many a time the information is passed by the consultant through nurses (hospital authorities) to the relatives. Even in this case the patient in all likelihood would have lapsed into coma which they declared as brain dead.( Coma does not mean Brain Dead). That explains the patient was breathing after removal of ventilator support.

I wish the Indian Medical Council issues A CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND CONFIRMATION OF DEATH as done in UK and USA.
The managers of medical institution should ensure direct communication between consultants and patient's relatives in critically ill patients to avoid similar situations.

For the news go here The Hindu : Front Page : Tension over ‘brain-dead’ patient
Gopalan