Recently, we had a three months old infant, who sustained brain death due to an RTA. The parent doctors gave consent for organ retrieval to help save lives of others. The Transplant of Human Organ Act 2011 and Rules thereof 2014 states clearly that Brain death certification has to be done with a minimum gap of six hours in adults. After the 1st declaration, medico-legal formalities have to completed and the formal organ retrieval takes place after the 2nd certification.
Unfortunately, there are no guidelines if the donor is an infant. Even Western literature does not give clearcut guidelines on the subject. Recommendation by International Societies are the second test should be carried out after 24 hours for children <30 days and after 12 hours if the child is between 1-18 years. Infants are very unstable and may suffer cardiac arrest due to the delay and this may deny the parents the…
