Organ donation after Brain Death is strictly regulated. According to the provisions of the Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act. THOTA 1994 the protocols for declaration of brain stem death or brain death has been defined. Any organ donation process must involve the following steps before the actual transplant can occur.
- A Registered Medical Practitioner in charge of the Hospital where the brain stem death patient is admitted.
- A Registered Medical Practitioner nominated from the panel of Doctors who have bee approved by the Appropriate Authority.
- A Neurologist/Neuro-Surgeon. (If a Neurologist/Neurosurgeon is not available to carry out the tests then any Surgeon or Physician and Anesthetist or Intensive who is nominated by Medical Administrator In-charge from the panel of names who have been approved by the appropriate Authority can included in the panel).
- The registered medical practitioner treating the deceased. Results of the tests are recorded on Form 10 of the THOT Act 2014. The family’s consent is obtained on Form 8.
This Organ Donation Procedure is strictly followed. The certifying clinicians must have no interest or benefit in any way from transplantation of cadaver donor organs. The legal time of death in these circumstances is taken as the second set of brain stem death tests. The certification should be done on laid out forms as per the act. The medical director or medical superintendent of the hospital should finally countercheck and sign the form. It is only after these formalities have been completed, should organs be retrieved.