Supreme Court Asks AIIMS to Explore Alternatives for 'Brain Death' Verification

The Supreme Court directed AIIMS to form an expert committee to evaluate alternative scientific methods for certifying "brain death."

The bench acted on a petition by Dr. S. Ganapathy, who alleged that the current reliance on the apnea test is subjective and lacks transparency.

The petitioner argued that doctors often certify patients without physical examinations and recommended brain angiograms or EEGs as more reliable indicators. The Court noted that while statutory procedures exist, their efficacy is under scrutiny.

The committee of experts will report on the safety and viability of these alternative tests by July 2026.

[Dr. S. Ganapathy v. UOI & Ors.]